Physics How to close the gap: From Independent Research to Academic Discourse

[Esim Can]

Hello Physics Forums Community,
I'm hoping to draw upon the community's collective wisdom regarding a procedural challenge that I believe many independent researchers face.

I'm working on a self-contained theoretical framework from a foundational starting point. The work touches upon concepts from general relativity, quantum foundations, and cosmology, attempting to connect them based on a single relational principle. It has now reached a point, where some parameter free values seemingly emerge out of it, reaching the limits of my capability. At this point, as someone working outside the formal academic structure, the path forward is unclear.

I will NOT post details on the model in this forum, because i respect of course, that this place is not the right place for such things. So my questions are more about the process, what to do next.

I ask myself now, what are the most viable pathways for an independent researcher to bring a comprehensive body of work to the attention of the academic community? Is a preprint server like arXiv a recommended first step? I'm aware of the endorsement process, which can be a hurdle. Or; What is the most respectful and appropriate way to initiate contact with an academic professional for feedback, without it being an unwelcome imposition?

I post these questions here, hoping that perhaps other people may have been in such a situation before or, perhaps are facing similar challenges right now.

I would be very grateful for any advice, experiences, or potential strategies the community could share.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Greetings,

Esim Can

 

[berkeman]

Do you have any local universities with professors or graduate students who are working on the same thing? If so, you can consider paying them for several hours of consulting to discuss your work and get feedback. You will want to have some kind of Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in place before discussing your work in detail.

 

[Dale]

I would simply submit your research to a journal. Usually a good indication of which journal to submit to is the journal that was the source for most of your research. Although you surely studied hundreds of papers in a dozen journals, focus on the journal that you returned to most frequently.

 

[WWGD]

Do you have any local universities with professors or graduate students who are working on the same thing? If so, you can consider paying them for several hours of consulting to discuss your work and get feedback. You will want to have some kind of Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in place before discussing your work in detail.

If you contact and address politely a prof whose work/research overlaps with your issue and make sure you know what you're talking about and ask clear and specific questions, so that you don't waste their time, they may exchange emails with you for free. It happened with me. If you need more of his time and effort, you may go the Berkeman route.