Training wicked scientists for a world of wicked problems

Abstract

Humanity faces a number of wicked problems, from global climate change and the coronavirus pandemic to systemic racism and widening economic inequality. Since such complex and dynamic problems are plagued by disagreement among stakeholders over their nature and cause, they are notoriously difficult to solve. This commentary argues that if humanity truly aspires to address the grand challenges of today and tomorrow, then graduate education must be redesigned. It is no longer sufficient to train students only to be experts in their respective fields. They also must hone the interpersonal and professional skills that allow them to collaborate successfully within diverse teams of researchers and other stakeholders. Here the conceptual framework of wicked science is proposed, including what a graduate program in wicked science would achieve and why such training matters both to researchers and the communities where they work. If humanity hopes to effectively tackle the world’s wicked problems, then it is time to train a generation of wicked scientists.

Replication of the natural selection of bad science

“…These findings also serve as argumentational base in numerous publications (Barnett, 2018;e.g. Eisner, 2018;Forstmeier et al, 2017;Kawa et al, 2021;Kenna et al, 2017;Robson et al, 2021;Smaldino et al, 2019;Stewart & Plotkin, 2021). The study reported here attempts to replicate the agent-based model presented by Smaldino and McElreath (Smaldino & McElreath, 2016).…”

Replication of the natural selection of bad science

“…These findings also serve as argumentational base in numerous publications (e.g. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]). The study reported here attempts to replicate the agent-based model presented by Smaldino & McElreath [2].…”

Moving graduate and professional education forward to develop leaders equipped to effectively address wicked problems

“…In their article in this issue, Gigliotti and Spear share the importance of preparing students for a future of increasing uncertainty. In a poignant article on "Training Wicked Scientists for a World of Wicked Problems," Kawa et al (2021) observed that expertise in a given field is no longer sufficient. Instead, scientists must be adept at collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders.…”

“…As noted by Onyura et al (2019), "Leadership education needs to evolve to incorporate broader collective capacity building, as well as evidence-informed strategies for leadership development" (p. 133). Leadership educators cannot transform graduate and professional education without a clear focus on the skills and capacities that will facilitate solving today's most pressing complex and wicked problems (Kawa et al, 2021;Onyura et al, 2019). Historically, many view science as an individual pursuit, but there is increasing recognition that today's problems cannot be solved with a singular scientific answer, and team science has become a priority for funding agencies.…”