GoKawiilImperial College and Nature journal hold first conference on failure in science
Imperial College London's Good Science Project, led by Dr Stephen Webster, partnered with Nature editor-in-chief Magdalena Skipper to organize a conference called Failure in Science, held in April 2026 at Imperial. About 150 delegates attended to discuss mistakes, missed opportunities and neglected findings in research. The event is now the basis for a six-part podcast series exploring failure at personal, institutional and societal levels in science.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The initiative suggests a growing push within academia to treat failure as a normal, even necessary, part of the scientific process rather than something to hide, which could influence how institutions evaluate and fund research. By examining institutional incentives that prioritize quick results, the organizers appear to be questioning whether current research culture discourages honest reporting of negative or inconclusive results. The podcast series could extend this conversation beyond the conference's 150 attendees to a wider public and academic audience.
- Imperial College's Good Science Project and Nature co-organized a conference on failure in science held in April 2026.
- About 150 delegates attended to discuss mistakes, missed opportunities, and neglected scientific work.
- A six-part podcast series will expand on conference themes, covering personal, institutional, and societal dimensions of scientific failure.
Source: nature.com — Byrne, 2026-10-19
Published there as: “Why failure is a taboo topic in science”
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