Best time Quote by Gerald Holton
“Even in the best times, managing science has been compared to herding cats; it is not done well, but one is surprised to find it done at all.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Science Management, 1970
Science management is chaotic and unpredictable, yet somehow it works.
In simple terms: Science is chaotic but somehow works.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty in managing science.
Themes
complexity
uncertainty
organization
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- policy making
- project coordination
- funding agencies
Key Concepts
systems theory
scientific methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve coordination in scientific projects?
- What structures reduce chaos?
A Different Perspective
Chaos can lead to inefficiency and errors.
![“If the layman cannot participate in decision making, he will have to turn himself over, essentially blind, to a hermetic elite. ... [The fundamental question becomes] are we still capable of self-government and therefore freedom? Margaret Mead wrote in a 1959 issue of Daedalus about scientists…” quote by Gerald Holton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/368/gerald-holton-46138_benevolent_if-the-layman-cannot-participate-in-deci_1394613.jpg)
