Transformative Research Is Not Easily Predicted

Transformative research (TR) statements in scientific grant proposals have become mainstream. However, TR is defined as radically changing our understanding of a concept, causing a paradigm shift, or opening new frontiers. We argue that it is rarely possible to predict the transformative nature of research. Interviews and surveys of 78 transformative ecologists suggest that most TR began with incremental goals, while transformative potential was recognized later. Most respondents thought TR is unpredictable and should not be prioritized over ‘incremental’ research that typically leads to breakthroughs. Importantly, TR directives might encourage scientists to overstate the importance of their research. We recommend that granting agencies (i) allocate only a subset of funds to TR and (ii) solicit more realistic proposal statements. We argue that transformative research is inherently unpredictable. Emphasizing transformative research actually may hinder scientific discovery. ‘Do you think Bob Paine knew he was being transformative when he started ripping sea stars off rocks? No!’. Funding agencies should concentrate on the ‘goals’ of the research rather than the ‘outcome’.