Comment by jwdeming on Peter Thiel announces the 20 talented people he will pay to drop out of college to pursue innovative scientific and technical projects · 2011-05-28T03:41:05.134Z · LW · GW

I understand your confusion re the seeming contradiction re Laura Deming's desire to promote a long-term research orientation vs getting technologies out of the lab and into the market sooner. I know Laura very well. Do not bet against her. Ever. Look up "implacable" or "relentless" in any dictionary and that's her.

She has developed a pragmatic strategy to change the entire way we fund scientific research. There's a reason for the seeming contradiction that can be easily explained to anyone who understands how markets work. I can't go into details but it is one of many sub-components of the main funding structure. It makes use of shorter-term opportunities that crop up to generate revenue that would be re-channeled back, as additional funding, into longer-term research. Note the "IP" in the title of her proposed fund.

Her strategy, which will surely change as she gains experience, is impressive because, for someone who just turned 17, she included so many powerfully aligned, pragmatic proprietary incentives that balance the shorter-term need for large amounts of funding with longer-term focus of research. Crazy yes, for a 17 yr old, to undertake... until you get to know Laura. When you do, it's not hard to see why The Thiel Foundation chose her. But know what's crazier? Death. Death is also banal, horrific and pathetic. Go Laura!