Using the Science of Teams to Lead Scientific Teams

Issue 181: We offer four guiding principles to optimize large scientific collaborations based on the science of cooperation and collective intelligence

Scientific knowledge was historically advanced by individuals, and the reward structure in science reflects this tradition. Early career scientists are encouraged to establish their independence to demonstrate their genius—and many are even instructed to avoid collaborating with their mentors. Those who do it well eventually secure tenure. And the very best—from Albert Einstein to Marie Curie—might eventually win the Nobel Prize or another prestigious accolade.

So it was big news when a physics paper with 5,154 authors(!) broke the record for the largest number of contributors to a single research article. This team of scientists were working at the Large Hadron Collider to provide a precise estimate of the size of the Higgs boson—commonly referred to as “The God Particle”. It was a big deal.

The rise of team science has been one of the most fascinating and exciting developments across the sciences. Whether researchers are mapping the human genome and trying to understand cultural diffe…