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The New Invisible College: Science for Development
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The twentieth century was the era of ""big science."" Driven by strategic rivalries and fierce economic competition, wealthy governments invested heavily in national science establishments. Direct funding for institutions like the National Science Foundation and high-visibility projects, such as the race to the moon, fueled innovation, growth, and national prestige. But the big science model left poorer countries out in the cold. Today the organization of science is undergoing a fundamental transformation. In T he New Invisible College, Caroline Wagner combines quantitative data and extensive interviews to map the emergence of global science networks and trace the dynamics driving their growth. She argues that the shift from big science to global networks creates unprecedented opportunities for developing countries to tap science's potential. Rather than squander resources in vain efforts to mimic the scientific establishments of the twentieth century, developing country governments can leverage networks by creating incentives for top-notch scientists to focus on research that addresses their concerns and by finding ways to tie knowledge to local problem solving. T he New Invisible College offers both a guidebook and a playbook for policymakers confronting these tasks.
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The twentieth century was the era of ""big science."" Driven by strategic rivalries and fierce economic competition, wealthy governments invested heavily in national science establishments. Direct funding for institutions like the National Science Foundation and high-visibility projects, such as the race to the moon, fueled innovation, growth, and national prestige. But the big science model left poorer countries out in the cold. Today the organization of science is undergoing a fundamental transformation. In T he New Invisible College, Caroline Wagner combines quantitative data and extensive interviews to map the emergence of global science networks and trace the dynamics driving their growth. She argues that the shift from big science to global networks creates unprecedented opportunities for developing countries to tap science's potential. Rather than squander resources in vain efforts to mimic the scientific establishments of the twentieth century, developing country governments can leverage networks by creating incentives for top-notch scientists to focus on research that addresses their concerns and by finding ways to tie knowledge to local problem solving. T he New Invisible College offers both a guidebook and a playbook for policymakers confronting these tasks.
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- GenresNonfiction
173 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Caroline S. Wagner
15 books1 followerCaroline S. Wagner conducts research in the field of science and technology and its relationship to policy, society, and innovation, with a particular focus on international collaboration.
Professor Wagner received a Ph.D. in Science & Technology Dynamics from Amsterdam School of Communications Research, University of Amsterdam, a Master of Arts degree in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from George Washington University, and a B.A. is from Trinity College.
She currently serves on the faculty of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and as an advisor to the Battelle Center for Science and Technology Policy—a research center within the Glenn College. She is on the advisory board of Ohio State University ADVANCE program to increase the participation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.
Prior to joining Ohio State’s faculty in 2011, Dr. Wagner was a policy analyst working with and for government in a career that spanned more than thirty years and three continents. At The RAND Corporation, she was deputy to the director of the Science & Technology Policy Institute, a research center serving the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This position included crafting and coordinating research projects related to science and technology subjects across a number of disciplines and locations. Wagner’s role was to act as project manager, writer, and policy analyst on more than 12 major projects for RAND. Also, with RAND, Dr. Wagner served at RAND Europe’s office in Leiden, Netherlands, working for the European Commission. She also worked twice as staff member for the U.S. Congress, once as a Professional Staff Member for the Committee for Science, Space, and Technology, and once as an analyst for the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. With the U.S. State Department, Dr. Wagner was stationed for two years at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea as an economic officer reporting on technological change in Asia. Dr. Wagner is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and an elected member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Knowledge creation, dissemination, and application are at the core of Dr. Wagner’s research. She is particularly interested in collaborative efforts to conduct research, development, and innovation. Public policy towards investments in science, technology, and new economy are at the center of her work, and this extends to developing countries that seek to use knowledge as the basis for growth. Her 2008 book, “The New Invisible College: Science for Development,” focused on using network concepts to diffuse knowledge and application of new ideas.
Dr. Wagner engages with students at all levels, from a Freshman Seminar on the history of space, to doctoral students in public policy analysis. Her favorite class is Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Sectors, where she teaches and guides the future leaders of our Nation where she brings her own experience working with the White House and the US Congress into the classroom. She welcomes students dropping by her office at any time.
Dr. Wagner serves as a consultant to the United Nations for the Sustainable Development Goals, and has served as a consultant to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. For the Royal Society of London, Dr. Wagner advised and co-wrote the report on “Knowledge, Networks, and Nations.” She served on the Millennium Development Goals Task Force on Science, Technology, and Innovation. She is the editor of the journal, Science and Public Policy. In Ohio, she is actively working with Smart Cities and “Maker Movement” to disseminate ideas for economic growth.
Dr. Wagner has been married for 33 years to Dennis McIntosh, and together they are the proud parents of three children.
(Source: http://glenn.osu.edu/faculty/glenn-fa...)
Professor Wagner received a Ph.D. in Science & Technology Dynamics from Amsterdam School of Communications Research, University of Amsterdam, a Master of Arts degree in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from George Washington University, and a B.A. is from Trinity College.
She currently serves on the faculty of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and as an advisor to the Battelle Center for Science and Technology Policy—a research center within the Glenn College. She is on the advisory board of Ohio State University ADVANCE program to increase the participation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.
Prior to joining Ohio State’s faculty in 2011, Dr. Wagner was a policy analyst working with and for government in a career that spanned more than thirty years and three continents. At The RAND Corporation, she was deputy to the director of the Science & Technology Policy Institute, a research center serving the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This position included crafting and coordinating research projects related to science and technology subjects across a number of disciplines and locations. Wagner’s role was to act as project manager, writer, and policy analyst on more than 12 major projects for RAND. Also, with RAND, Dr. Wagner served at RAND Europe’s office in Leiden, Netherlands, working for the European Commission. She also worked twice as staff member for the U.S. Congress, once as a Professional Staff Member for the Committee for Science, Space, and Technology, and once as an analyst for the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. With the U.S. State Department, Dr. Wagner was stationed for two years at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea as an economic officer reporting on technological change in Asia. Dr. Wagner is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and an elected member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Knowledge creation, dissemination, and application are at the core of Dr. Wagner’s research. She is particularly interested in collaborative efforts to conduct research, development, and innovation. Public policy towards investments in science, technology, and new economy are at the center of her work, and this extends to developing countries that seek to use knowledge as the basis for growth. Her 2008 book, “The New Invisible College: Science for Development,” focused on using network concepts to diffuse knowledge and application of new ideas.
Dr. Wagner engages with students at all levels, from a Freshman Seminar on the history of space, to doctoral students in public policy analysis. Her favorite class is Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Sectors, where she teaches and guides the future leaders of our Nation where she brings her own experience working with the White House and the US Congress into the classroom. She welcomes students dropping by her office at any time.
Dr. Wagner serves as a consultant to the United Nations for the Sustainable Development Goals, and has served as a consultant to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. For the Royal Society of London, Dr. Wagner advised and co-wrote the report on “Knowledge, Networks, and Nations.” She served on the Millennium Development Goals Task Force on Science, Technology, and Innovation. She is the editor of the journal, Science and Public Policy. In Ohio, she is actively working with Smart Cities and “Maker Movement” to disseminate ideas for economic growth.
Dr. Wagner has been married for 33 years to Dennis McIntosh, and together they are the proud parents of three children.
(Source: http://glenn.osu.edu/faculty/glenn-fa...)
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 14, 2020
لا أستسيغ الكتب الأكاديمية كهذا الكتاب أبداً، فلا أحد في هذا العالم يمكنه ملئ الصفحات بالحشو مثل الأكاديميين فمع أن الفكرة الأساسية قد تكون جيدة أحياناً لكن طول الكتاب وامتلاؤه بالحشو واللغة المربكة المميزة للكتابات الأكاديمية تقتل كل متعة للقراءة وتغطي الصفحات الطويلة بلا معنى على القليل المفيد في الكتاب.
قد يكون للترجمة أيضا دور في زيادة ذلك الأثر لكن على العموم أصبحت أرى هذه سمة قاتلة في مجمل الكتابات الأكاديمية حيث يمكن اختصار اغلب الصفحات بشيء قليل ولكن للاعتبارات الأكاديمية يتم ملأ الكتاب بأي شيء فقط ليظهر وكأنه ذو قيمة أعل.
في المرة القادمة سأفكر ٣ مرات قبل أن أقرأ كتابا على هذا النمط الأكاديمي العقيم
قد يكون للترجمة أيضا دور في زيادة ذلك الأثر لكن على العموم أصبحت أرى هذه سمة قاتلة في مجمل الكتابات الأكاديمية حيث يمكن اختصار اغلب الصفحات بشيء قليل ولكن للاعتبارات الأكاديمية يتم ملأ الكتاب بأي شيء فقط ليظهر وكأنه ذو قيمة أعل.
في المرة القادمة سأفكر ٣ مرات قبل أن أقرأ كتابا على هذا النمط الأكاديمي العقيم
November 11, 2008
Another one I read for work...was actually more interesting than I thought. Obvious and yet not obvious at the same time...only read it if you care about how science research works though. ;)
February 16, 2025
Marginally more interesting than I had imagined it to be. Still dull. Book review incoming 🔜
June 23, 2014
A good description of how science works-- uses an understanding of the incentives of individual scientists to describe how collaborations form. The book puts a focus on what that means for developing countries, but the basic ideas can be applied in many contexts.
March 10, 2026
I invited Caroline Wagner to give a keynote presentation at a conference I was organizing. Her talk was well-received.
The book is slow.
The book is slow.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews