Brothers Launch "Accelerator" for Scientific Breakthroughs

Why does science move so slowly when thousands of PhD students publish papers every year? Uri Schattner, a geologist at the University of Haifa, realized universities teach scientists how to conduct research but never teach them how to make breakthroughs.

When he shared this frustration with his brother Moti Shatner, an entrepreneur who helps launch startups, they discovered something remarkable. Scientists and entrepreneurs face identical challenges, but only entrepreneurs get practical tools to overcome them.

The brothers founded the Institute of Science Disruption, a nonprofit dedicated to helping researchers drive real breakthroughs. Their new book, "How to Become a Disruptive Scientist," translates battle-tested business strategies into actionable methods for academics.

Uri Schattner noticed a troubling pattern in his field. While researchers use the word "breakthrough" constantly in their papers, most publications represent small improvements rather than transformative discoveries. The system rewards counting publications instead of achieving genuine paradigm shifts.

True breakthroughs don't just advance existing models. They disrupt established knowledge and create entirely new realities, explained Schattner.

Moti Shatner saw the parallel immediately. Both young scientists and entrepreneurs get stuck in narrow thinking, unable to pivot or spot opportunities. But the startup world solved this problem 30 years ago with accelerators that teach people how to recognize and create opportunities.

Their book starts with a checklist inspired by Nobel Prize winners and successful startups. Readers can assess how disruptive their current work is, then learn specific steps to aim higher. The guide covers everything from pursuing unexpected observations to communicating discoveries effectively.

These aren't theoretical tips. Uri Schattner applied these exact methods in his own career, which he credits for winning a leading award in his field. Now he wants to pass those tools to others.

The Ripple Effect

The brothers aren't just helping individual researchers advance their careers. They're trying to accelerate human progress itself. Instead of waiting 50 years between major scientific paradigm shifts, imagine experiencing them every three to five years.

Faster breakthroughs mean faster solutions to climate change, disease, energy challenges, and countless problems we haven't solved yet. When scientists learn to think like entrepreneurs, they gain the agility to look beyond their narrow tracks and spot game-changing opportunities.

The research environment must support this shift, Schattner acknowledged. But the goal is absolutely achievable with the right mindset and methods.

"Just think about this," said Uri Schattner, excitement clear in his voice. "The world will be much better."