At the recent CNI meeting in San Diego Dan Cohen of Northeastern University contributed a provocative and insightful comment at a session on Cloud Labs and the future role of Ai and self-driving labs in scientific discovery, asking if we may see senior scientists taking on roles akin to conceptual artists in an emerging world where graduate students and post-docs are increasingly scarce and expensive, and computer driven experimental apparatus becomes more commonplace.

In his wonderful occasional newsletter Humane Ingenuity highly recommended: (see the link for information on how to subscribe) Dan has recently fleshed out his thoughts on this topic. Important reading.

Is Science Becoming Conceptual Art?

A combination of new technologies may represent a new era for science, but one in which the lone scientist may no longer need her lab mates. Is that a good thing?

Clifford Lynch Director, CNI