Fixing Science: Practical Solutions for the Irreproducibility Crisis
When: February 7 and 8
Where: Independent Institute | 100 Swan Way, Oakland, California, 94621‑1428
Theme
Many headline scientific findings in recent years have turned out to be false. They can’t be reproduced—and if you can’t reproduce a result, it isn’t science. The headlines are just the tip of the iceberg. A huge amount of ordinary scientific findings published in peer-reviewed journals don’t replicate. Something has gone terribly wrong in contemporary scientific procedures.
Science’s failure is called the Irreproducibility Crisis. It is the result of improper use of statistics, arbitrary research techniques, lack of accountability, political groupthink, and a scientific culture biased toward producing positive results. By some estimates, half of recent scientific research could be irreproducible.
“Fixing Science” brings together scholars from several disciplines to talk about practical ways to fix how science works. Panelists will suggest how research, scientists, academics, government officials, and philanthropists should reform scientific research. Special panels will describe how the irreproducibility crisis affects specific disciplines, including economics and climate science. Other panels will examine topics such as groupthink and falsifiability. Throughout, “Fixing Science” will focus on which reforms have worked so far, to help us craft and propose initiatives going forward. The conference will help advance practical solutions to the Irreproducibility Crisis by scientists, civil society, and lawmakers.
Speakers Include:
Louis Anthony Cox: Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Colorado
Daniele Fanelli: Fellow in Quantitative Methodology, Department of Methodology, London School of Economics and Political Science
Patrick J. Michaels: Senior Fellow, Competitive Enterprise Institute
Mark Regnerus: Professor, Sociology Department, University of Texas at Austin
Nathan A. Schachtman: Of Counsel to Ulmer & Berne LLP, and Lecture in Law at the Columbia School of Law
Barry Smith: SUNY Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Julian Park Chair, Philosophy Department, University at Buffalo
Ronald L. Wasserstein: Executive Director, American Statistical Association
Discounts and Codes
Until December 31, 2019 all tickets will remain at early-bird discount pricing for students and general registration. After that date, ticket prices will increase.
Members of the National Association of Scholars will receive a discount code by email or may write to contact@nas.org.
Members of the Independent Institute will receive discounts from the Independent Institute.
Accommodations
The Independent Institute is located right next to the Oakland Airport; there are many hotels located very near to the Institute. Hotels on the same block as the Independent Institute include the Hilton Oakland Airport and the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Oakland – Airport. The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Oakland Airport, the Oakland Airport Executive Hotel, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland-Airport, the Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Airport, the Best Western Plus Airport Inn & Suites, Motel 6 Oakland Airport, Quality Inn Oakland Airport, and La Quinta Inn & Suites Oakland Airport Coliseum are all a short distance from the Independent Institute.
Conference Schedule
Friday, February 7, 2020
2:30 pm Registration open
3:30 pm Welcome and Opening Remarks
Peter Wood, President, NAS
4:00 pm Opening Address
Nathan A. Schachtman, Of Counsel to Ulmer & Berne LLP, and Lecturer in Law at the Columbia School of Law
4:45 pm Break and appetizers
5:30 pm Economics and the Irreproducibility Crisis
David M. Levy, Professor, Economics Department, George Mason University
Richard K. Vedder, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Economics, Ohio University
6:30 pm Break for Dinner
7:00 pm Dinner Address
Barry Smith, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Julian Park Chair, Philosophy Department, University at Buffalo
Saturday, February 8, 2020
8:30 am Registration and breakfast
9:00 am Morning Address
Daniele Fanelli, Fellow in Quantitative Methodology, Department of Methodology, London School of Economics and Political Science
9:45 am Break
10:00 am Falsifiability and the Irreproducibility Crisis
Brian D. Earp, Associate Director, Yale-Hastings Program in Ethics and Health Policy
Anastasios Tsonis, Distinguished Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences Group, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; and Adjunct Research Scientist, Hydrologic Research Center, San Diego, California
11:00 am Break
11:15 am Environmental Sciences and the Irreproducibility Crisis
Tim Edgell, Principal, Environmental Services, Stantec, Inc.
Patrick J. Michaels, Senior Fellow, Competitive Enterprise Institute
S. Stanley Young, Chief Executive Officer, CGStat, LLC
12:30 pm Luncheon
1:00 pm Luncheon Address
Louis Anthony Cox, Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Colorado
1:45 pm Break
2:00 pm Groupthink and the Irreproducibility Crisis
Lee Jussim, Chair, Psychology Department, Rutgers University
Mark Regnerus, Professor, Sociology Department, University of Texas at Austin
Diego A. Reinero, Doctoral Candidate, Psychology Department, New York University
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm The Road to Reform
Yuri Lazebnik, CSO, Scite, Inc.
David Trafimow, Professor, Psychology Department, New Mexico State University
David Randall, Director of Research, National Association of Scholars
4:45 pm Break
5:00 pm Keynote Address
Ronald L. Wasserstein, Executive Director, American Statistical Association
5:45 pm Closing Remarks
Graham Walker, Executive Director, Independent Institute
The National Association of Scholars is an organization of scholars committed to higher education as the catalyst of American freedom. Our recent work on the irreproducibility crisis includes our report The Irreproducibility Crisis of Modern Science: Causes, Consequences, and the Road to Reform (2018). The Independent Institute’s mission is to advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity.
