Who is the most influential scientist today?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of who is considered the most influential scientist today, exploring the implications of such a designation across various scientific fields, including physics, mathematics, and beyond.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express that the question is poorly framed due to the vastness of scientific disciplines, suggesting that no single scientist can be deemed the most influential.
  • Others propose that influential figures may vary by specific fields, such as solid state physics or cosmology, rather than a general designation across all sciences.
  • Ed Witten is mentioned multiple times as a candidate for the title of influential scientist, with some participants expressing admiration for his contributions.
  • One participant suggests that Nobel Prize winners could be considered the most influential scientists for any given year.
  • A participant questions the relevance of focusing solely on physicists, implying that the significance of physics may be diminishing in the broader context of scientific inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the question lacks clarity and that multiple competing views exist regarding who might be considered influential. There is no consensus on a single individual or the criteria for influence.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the limitations of defining influence in science, as it depends on various factors including the specific field of study and the evolving nature of scientific research.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the philosophy of science, the impact of scientific contributions, and the dynamics of influence within various scientific disciplines may find this discussion relevant.

Angel Penaflor
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I've been reading about the life of different scientist like Newton, Albert Einstein and Ramanujan and a question came to my mind
Who do you think is the most important or influential scientist today?
 
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That is really a poor question, because there are so many areas of physics (or other sciences and mathematics, are related fields) in which an individual can practice, teach or otherwise contribute.

I don't know of anyone who is singularly important to the exclusion of others.
 
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Angel Penaflor said:
I've been reading about the life of different scientist like Newton, Albert Einstein and Ramanujan and a question came to my mind
Who do you think is the most important or influential scientist today?
Ed Witten
 
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I agree, I don't think there isn't a single main scientist nowadays. Science is growing fast in all its branches, each in several directions and I don't see anyone at the forefront.
 
I agree with other responses that this is a poorly worded question, given the breadth and diversity of the fields of research within the different sciences. So no single scientist would be the most influential.

A better question might be who is the most influential physicist specializing in field X (e.g. solid state physics, statistical physics, optics, cosmology, atomic and molecular physics, particle physics, etc.) today.

You can make similar questions depending on other scientific fields.
 
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Maybe the easiest answer is that the most influential for any given year are those that win the Nobel prize?
 
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Ed Witten
 
Hornbein said:
Ed Witten
fourthindiana said:
Ed Witten
After seeing that 2 members here had given him the nod, I decided to find out a little more about Ed Witten, and I found this to-me-fascinating monologue:

At 22 minutes in, Ed Witten says:

In fact, the hardest part of research is always to find a question that's big enough that it's worth answering, but little enough that you actually can answer it.​
​
 
(k)NEWton
 
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why would the most influential scientist be a physicist? so 20th century, physics is mostly over
 
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