Spatial technologies of the future – Zack Chiang

“Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries and new ideas, probably in that order” – Sydney Brenner Deep down, we all want to do meaningful work. As a scientist, I want to do research that expands our collective knowledge and leads to a brighter future. But these broad aspirations are often unhelpful in figuring out which kinds of questions to work on. Should you do basic or translational research? Do you pick a trendy or dormant field? While there are no universal answers, I think everyone interested in accelerating scientific progress should consider working on new technologies. One way of thinking about how new technologies drive scientific progress is through tech trees. Tech trees are a concept from Civilization, a game that lets you play as the ruler of a global power over thousands of years. As ruler, it is your responsibility to decide which new technologies your civilization should research. At first, not all options are available: each technology has a set

“Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries and new ideas, probably in that order” – Sydney Brenner Deep down, we all want to do meaningful work. As a scientist, I want to do research that expands our collective knowledge and leads to a brighter future. But these broad aspirations are often unhelpful in figuring out which kinds of questions to work on. Should you do basic or translational research? Do you pick a trendy or dormant field? While there are no universal answers, I think everyone interested in accelerating scientific progress should consider working on new techno