I should also note our funding is much more traditional than you might imagine. Our science work, in particular, is primarily made up of very mainstream foundations like the Sloan Foundation and the Heising-Simons Foundation.
I'm happy to chat more! Just send me a note caleb@ifp.org
But my primary focus has been on creating a diversified portfolio where science in lots of different forms gets the opportunity to thrive.
I work on reforming science because I care so much about its long term political stability. I also really appreciate the contributions of traditional academia, and again, on net I'd like for it to get a lot more funding.
I'd gladly double (or triple) public funding of science, I have no desire to privatize it (I'm not even sure what that would mean). I think the NSF/NIH/DOE are essential institutions and arguably the most important public funding there is to protect.
Hi Mark! I'm sure we'd find lots to disagree about, but I don't think this characterization of me, IFP, our funding sources, or our views on science are accurate.
π¨ We're hiring!
Join @ifp.bsky.socialβs metascience team to rethink how science gets funded and organized.
Fellow & Senior Fellow roles open β $3K referral bonus if we hire your recommendation.
Apply by May 11:
ifp.org/come-work-wi...
@calebwatney.bsky.social of Institute for Progress on much-needed reforms of US funding for investments in science that make a lot more sense than DOGE slash-and-burn. via @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/o...
Smart piece on need for more risk-taking in US science www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/o... by @calebwatney.bsky.social of @ifp.bsky.social
(Learn more abt IFPβs smart sci/med ideas β including some stuff by me & others on clinical trials β on their website.)
π―π―π―
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
A very interesting argument from @mtabarrok.bsky.social that credential inflation in education (without corresponding real gains in human capital) has made the Great Stagnation look a bit worse than it actually is.
www.maximum-progress.com/p/is-the-gre...
New post, coauthored with Caroline Fry! mattsclancy.substack.com/p/training-s...
macroscience is back today with @calebwatney.bsky.social thinking about how data limits the promise of metascience, and arguing for the need for a census-style effort in the space
www.macroscience.org/p/a-census-f...
I enjoyed having the opportunity to testify a few days ago before the House Science Committee on the areas where federal AI R&D funding can go the furthest:
progress.institute/where-can-fe...
My mom is reading Dune because she wants to connect with me and have me explain the plot π
New spring 2023 Journal of Economic Perspectives issue: housing/urban economics, universal health insurance, mental health, + a bonus teaching-oriented piece on event study models from Doug Miller: aeaweb.org/issues/721
Montana is on track to adopt perhaps the most ambitious state-level YIMBY reform package yet: legalizing duplexes, establishing as-of-right permitting, and requiring that zoning be informed by realistic assessments of housing need, among many reforms.
Everything you could possible want to know about nuclear power plant construction costs ποΈβ‘
https://progress.institute/nuclear-power-plant-construction-costs/
Core econtwitter subgraph is looking great 1/
@calebwatney.bsky.social
@heidiwilliams.bsky.social
@ryanradia.bsky.social
@josephpolitano.bsky.social
@birb.bsky.social
@neoliberal.bsky.social
@novosad.bsky.social
@wojtek.kopczuk.com
@basilhalperin.bsky.social
@instrumenthull.bsky.social
Anyone have any hot takes on buying a couch?
Had a blast at @calebwatney.bsky.social / @alecstapp.bsky.social / EIG conference in Lancaster, PA
π’ Android is finally here! π
Google takes a while to update their search so hereβs the direct link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.blueskyweb.app&hl=en_US
Ty π
Make a proper Android app @bsky.app