A proposed solution to arbitrary evaluations

The current evaluation system is fundamentally flawed not only for tenure/job securement, but also in peer review of scientific publications and grant applications, especially in basic research of STEM fields. A reform is imperative for continued scientific innovation. Based on our earlier paper, “A Robust Community-Based Credit System to Enhance Peer Review in Scientific Research“, a possible solution with concrete rigorous measures is proposed as a novel open-science initiative: the “Open ePrint and Rigorous Evaluation System for STEM“.

A letter on this topic is published in Physics Today, Volume 77, Issue 10, October 2014. By implementing a sophisticated credit- and role-based incentive mechanism, we could establish a new self-sustaining ecosystem for the entire scientific community. Rigorous science requires rigorous evaluation, and scientific innovation won’t develop efficiently until such a system is built.