Problem choice and decision trees in science and engineering

Michael A Fischbach

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.012

Problem choice and decision trees in science and engineering

Cell. 2024 Apr 11;187(8):1828-1833. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.012.

Author

Michael A Fischbach¹

Affiliation

¹ ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. Electronic address: fischbach@fischbachgroup.org.

PMID: 38608651
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.012

Abstract

Scientists and engineers often spend days choosing a problem and years solving it. This imbalance limits impact. Here, we offer a framework for problem choice: prompts for ideation, guidelines for evaluating impact and likelihood of success, the importance of fixing one parameter at a time, and opportunities afforded by failure.

MeSH terms

Decision Trees
Engineering*