Science Institute, Mainly Old Fogeys.
Whenever a scientist retires, resigns, is made redundant in their mid-50s, or leaves science for any reason there is a great deal of knowledge, know-how and wisdom lost.
I’m proposing an institute where these people are paid to come in a few days a month and thrash out their old theories for the benefit of younger scientists and engineers. There will be access to equipment, testing rigs and all sorts of analytical equipment, with free tea, coffee and biscuits. The full-time junior staff will be specially selected for their intelligence and patience.
One of my theories about innovation is that there are many half-notions in the world, but connecting your half to someone else’s half and making that bridge the gap between problem and solution can be a hit-and-miss affair. If you’ve ever heard something at random that sparks a memory and makes you go “Ah!” then you’ve bridged that gap.
Comedy writers are excellent at this, a joke is two ideas put together in an unexpected way.
The SIMOF solution is to have people who spent a lifetime bridging gaps create sparks in ways that nobody – least of all themselves – could anticipate.
It needs funding, and a site that has good access for public transport. Other than that, the idea’s good to go.
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