The newly-rebranded FQxI (Foundational Questions Institute), formerly FQXi (I don’t get it either), has launched an updated version of its almost-annual essay contest, which brings together contributions both from notable figures of science and philosophy and interested members of the public at large.
This contest’s topic is ‘How Could Science be Different?’.
In this competition, we invite creative and thought-provoking essays addressing science itself by considering the questions: To what degree is the science we have today necessarily the way it is versus contingent on the particular history and human societies in which it originated? What could a science free of prejudice and bigotry have looked like? What can it look like in the future? And how could the process of science be better?
These contests are usually a mixed bag, featuring contributions by noted and well-respected scientific figures as well as some total cranks. This particular competition introduces the novelty of anonymizing the names of entrants (so any discussion of who might have authored any given entry is off the table), so as to rate the essays objectively on their own merits, rather than by name recognition. I’d link to some past examples, but frankly, the site’s new design is one of the worst I’ve ever seen, with the competitions-page just listing, but not linking to past contests.
Also, the contest is still accepting new entries up through April 19, so if you’ve got anything to contribute, and the $10,000 first prize tickles your fancy, go for it!