A Call for a New Era of Research

Cassandra Williamson

25 Jun 2025

The integrity of scientific inquiry is under threat from partisan gridlock and politically motivated funding cuts. To overcome this, we cannot simply wait for a more favorable political climate; we must actively build a new, more resilient model for research.

For researchers and academics: 

My challenge to you is to embrace intellectual friction. Seek out colleagues with opposing viewpoints not as rivals to be defeated, but as essential partners in the pursuit of truth. Propose an adversarial collaboration on a contentious topic. By co-designing a study with your critics, you can produce findings that are more rigorous, nuanced, and resistant to dismissal.

For foundations, philanthropists, and non-governmental funders: 

You have a critical role to play. Shift your focus to support projects that institutionalize viewpoint diversity. Create grants specifically for adversarial and participatory research models. By funding the process of constructive disagreement, you invest in results that build trust and have a greater chance of creating lasting, positive change.

For the public and advocates: 

Demand a higher standard. When presented with research on a controversial issue, ask not just about the findings, but about the process. Was there an effort to include and address dissenting perspectives from the outset? Support the institutions and researchers who are pioneering these more inclusive and intellectually honest methods.

Let's work together to build a research ecosystem where disagreement is not a barrier, but the very foundation of more credible and widely accepted science. The time for this new approach is now.