The Lost Art of Scientific Inquiry

Aymen I. Idris reflects on how modern academia has transformed scientists from hands-on experimenters into grant writers, managers, and administrators, eroding the craft of direct inquiry that once defined scientific discovery. Drawing on his own career and conversations with researchers worldwide, he argues that the future of science depends on reclaiming time at the lab bench, protecting curiosity-driven research, and resisting a system that values metrics and funding over genuine exploration. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-lost-art-of-scientific-inquiry/ About the Author: Aymen I. Idris, PhD, is a London-born academic, researcher, founder, and director of Africa in Science (AiS), a think tank dedicated to exploring under-researched and neglected topics in academia. As an editor and writer, his work focuses on academia, culture, and diversity. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/