The sad story of a super-scientist who dreamed of becoming European champion

https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-moral-imperative-of-scientific.html

In a previous post titled "The Moral Imperative of Scientific Rebellion for Innovation Resurgence and Safeguard Our Planet", I listed seven pieces of advice to encourage more rebellious scientists. Recently, a study by researchers from Switzerland and China revealed that scientists with very high publication rates tend to have less capacity for leading disruptive discoveries. This suggests the need to add a new piece of advice to the aforementioned list:, "Avoid hiring scientists who pump out papers as if on an assembly line"

The results of this study do not surprise me. For several years, I have observed that the most highly regarded scientists, both internationally and in my own country, are not those with the most publications. This was evident in a post I wrote that garnered thousands of views. https://pacheco-torgal.blogspot.com/2021/05/ranking-de-investigadores.html

Regarding super-scientists, it is worth noting that a Norwegian university recently launched an investigation into the scientist with the highest number of publications in the country. This scientist, who has been publishing several articles per week and once expressed a dream of becoming the most published scientist in Europe, is now under scrutiny. https://www.universitetsavisa.no/filippo-berto-forskningsetikk-forskningsjuks/norges-mestpubliserende-forsker-granskes-for-alvorlige-brudd-pa-etiske-normer/403870

However, it is crucial to recognize that the blame for his unrealistic dream does not lie solely with him. It also falls on the academic community, which has allowed this problematic trend to rise unchecked, harming scientific integrity. Reflecting on this, I recall a post I wrote a few years ago titled, How many papers can a super-scientist author in a single week ?

"The repercussions of the aforementioned Reapolitik publishing strategy are manifold. Firstly, if Full Professors and Lab Directors can exploit this approach, it sets a precedent for junior researchers to emulate, harboring dreams of accumulating numerous publications themselves one day. Secondly, if this becomes the norm in Western countries, third-world nations may be inclined to replicate these "successful" practices, cultivating their own super-scientists. Consequently, if an African super-scientist were to emerge with 10,000 or 20,000 publications at the summit of the publishing rankings, there would be little ground for criticism. Moreover, in an era where Science faces challenges from alternative facts and fake news, this "grossly unethical" authorship behavior undermines scientific authority, inadvertently aiding those who oppose Science"