Information about the author Isabelle Stengers is a professor of the philosophy of science at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

In an argument that science must slow down to address the major challenges we face today, she tackles a variety of topics—from the politics of research to the role of women in science—and will resonate with anyone concerned about the role of science and its future.

Like fast food, fast science is prepared quickly, is not particularly good, and clogs the system. Efforts to tackle our most urgent problems have been hindered by conflicts within the scientific community and mixed messages that are symptomatic of a hasty approach. Furthermore, scientific research is shaped by the bubbles and crashes associated with economic speculation and the market. A focus on conformity, competitiveness, opportunism, and flexibility has made it extremely difficult to make progress.