{"id":24054,"date":"2026-06-22T14:23:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/?p=24054"},"modified":"2026-07-03T07:49:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T07:49:50","slug":"vs-phd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/","title":{"rendered":"AIIM vs PhD Science Grants: Why Science Funding Needs Internet Meritocracy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"scien-2887823776\" class=\"scien-before-content scien-entity-placement\"><style>\r\n.amazon-support-link {\r\n    display: inline-flex;\r\n    align-items: baseline;\r\n    gap: 0.3rem;\r\n    padding: 0.35rem 0.55rem;\r\n    color: inherit;\r\n    font-size: 0.88rem;\r\n    line-height: 1.2;\r\n    text-decoration: none;\r\n    opacity: 0.72;\r\n    white-space: nowrap;\r\n    transition: opacity 0.2s ease;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.amazon-support-link:hover,\r\n.amazon-support-link:focus-visible {\r\n    opacity: 1;\r\n    text-decoration: underline;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.amazon-support-link small {\r\n    font-size: 0.65rem;\r\n    opacity: 0.7;\r\n}\r\n\r\n@media (max-width: 900px) {\r\n    .amazon-support-link small {\r\n        display: none;\r\n    }\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<a class=\"amazon-support-link\"\r\n   href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/?tag=vpf04-20\"\r\n   target=\"_blank\"\r\n   rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\"\r\n   aria-label=\"Shop on Amazon and support World Science DAO\">\r\n    Shop on Amazon <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span>\r\n    <small>affiliate link<\/small>\r\n<\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#AIIM_vs_PhD_Science_Grants_Two_Different_Models_of_Scientific_Power\" >AIIM vs PhD Science Grants: Two Different Models of Scientific Power<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#The_Problem_With_PhD-Centered_Science_Grants\" >The Problem With PhD-Centered Science Grants<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#1_Grant_systems_reward_institutional_position\" >1. Grant systems reward institutional position<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#The_Hidden_Cost_of_Grant_Applications\" >The Hidden Cost of Grant Applications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#PhD_Grants_Are_Episodic_AIIM_Is_Continuous\" >PhD Grants Are Episodic; AIIM Is Continuous<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#Why_Peer_Review_Alone_Is_Not_Enough\" >Why Peer Review Alone Is Not Enough<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#AIIM_Rewards_Scientific_Dependencies\" >AIIM Rewards Scientific Dependencies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#The_PhD_System_Confuses_Credential_With_Merit\" >The PhD System Confuses Credential With Merit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#AIIM_as_a_Better_Grant-Prize_Hybrid\" >AIIM as a Better Grant-Prize Hybrid<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#Why_This_Matters_for_Independent_Scientists\" >Why This Matters for Independent Scientists<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#AIIM_Is_Not_Anti-PhD\" >AIIM Is Not Anti-PhD<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/vs-phd\/#Conclusion_From_Academic_Permission_to_Scientific_Merit\" >Conclusion: From Academic Permission to Scientific Merit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AIIM_vs_PhD_Science_Grants_Two_Different_Models_of_Scientific_Power\"><\/span>AIIM vs PhD Science Grants: Two Different Models of Scientific Power<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional <strong>PhD science grants<\/strong> are built around a familiar hierarchy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Get accepted into a university.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earn academic credentials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Join a recognized institution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write grant proposals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wait for committees to decide whether your work deserves funding.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>AI Internet-Meritocracy (AIIM)<\/strong> model proposes a different path: reward scientific and technical contributions according to measurable intellectual dependency, usage, citations, review, and downstream value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PhD grants fund approved people before results. AIIM funds useful contributions after and during real scientific use.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not a small administrative difference. It is a different theory of science funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Problem_With_PhD-Centered_Science_Grants\"><\/span>The Problem With PhD-Centered Science Grants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PhD grants are not inherently bad. They finance laboratories, equipment, early-career researchers, and long-term research programs. Major agencies such as the NIH and ERC use peer review to evaluate scientific proposals, and the ERC explicitly evaluates proposals using \u201cexcellence\u201d as its central criterion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the system has structural weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Grant_systems_reward_institutional_position\"><\/span>1. Grant systems reward institutional position<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A researcher outside a university, without a PhD, or without a powerful supervisor often has little realistic access to serious funding. This means the system may reject valuable science <strong>before evaluating the actual mathematical, theoretical, or technical content<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A traditional grant system asks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho are you, where do you work, and who certifies you?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM asks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat did you contribute, what depends on it, and how much value does it create?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That distinction matters. Some scientific bottlenecks are not located inside prestigious institutions. They may be discovered by independent researchers, open-source developers, or interdisciplinary outsiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Internal link: <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/meritocracy\/\">AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Hidden_Cost_of_Grant_Applications\"><\/span>The Hidden Cost of Grant Applications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grant applications consume enormous researcher time. A 2026 study estimated that grant and fellowship application processes cost about <strong>13% of the grant value<\/strong>, with most of that cost borne by applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is economically perverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scientists should spend their best energy on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>proving theorems,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>building tools,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>running experiments,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reviewing real outputs,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>connecting discoveries,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>improving reproducibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, many are forced to optimize for committee-readable narratives, bureaucratic formatting, institutional politics, and proposal strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM changes the unit of evaluation from <strong>application performance<\/strong> to <strong>scientific contribution<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PhD_Grants_Are_Episodic_AIIM_Is_Continuous\"><\/span>PhD Grants Are Episodic; AIIM Is Continuous<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grants are usually awarded in cycles. A researcher applies, waits, receives funding or rejection, and then repeats the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This creates several distortions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Traditional PhD Grants<\/th><th>AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Periodic applications<\/td><td>Continuous evaluation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Committee decision<\/td><td>Algorithmic and auditable merit flow<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Institution-centered<\/td><td>Contribution-centered<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Proposal-first<\/td><td>Result-and-dependency-first<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Strong gatekeeping<\/td><td>Open participation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Funding cliff risk<\/td><td>Ongoing value-based rewards<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Science itself is continuous. Knowledge does not appear in neat grant cycles. A theorem, dataset, proof assistant library, experimental protocol, or open-source scientific tool may become valuable years after publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM is designed for this reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Internal link: <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/scientific-funding\/\">Science Funding Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Peer_Review_Alone_Is_Not_Enough\"><\/span>Why Peer Review Alone Is Not Enough<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peer review is important, but peer review before funding has a serious limitation: reviewers must predict future value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is difficult. High-risk research, foundational mathematics, unusual theory, and paradigm-changing tools often look strange before they become useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is evidence that early-career grant failure can remove people from the system. A study of NIH R01 applicants found that a near-miss early-career setback predicted more than a 10% chance of disappearing permanently from the NIH system, even though some near-miss scientists later produced higher-impact work than near-winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This suggests a brutal fact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Grant committees may not only fail to identify future value; they may also destroy future value by pushing people out too early.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM reduces this risk by making funding more granular, continuous, and dependency-sensitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AIIM_Rewards_Scientific_Dependencies\"><\/span>AIIM Rewards Scientific Dependencies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of AIIM\u2019s strongest ideas is that science is not just a list of isolated papers. It is a dependency graph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A discovery may depend on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a mathematical definition,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a theorem,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a software package,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a dataset,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a failed experiment,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a review,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a translation,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a replication,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a conceptual bridge between fields.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grants rarely compensate the full dependency chain. They tend to reward principal investigators, institutions, and visible final outputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM can reward hidden infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is especially important for foundational work such as <strong>ordered semicategory actions<\/strong>, formal mathematical systems, open-source scientific software, and theoretical frameworks that may become bottlenecks for many later discoveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Internal link: <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/donation\/\">Donate to Science<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_PhD_System_Confuses_Credential_With_Merit\"><\/span>The PhD System Confuses Credential With Merit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A PhD is useful evidence. It shows training, discipline, and some capacity for research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it is not the same as scientific merit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A person may have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>no PhD but a major theorem,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>no university position but a useful open-source research tool,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>no grant history but a foundational idea,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>no institutional support but a discovery that many others later use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current system often treats such people as marginal. AIIM treats them as potential contributors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the central ethical and economic improvement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Science should not require permission from a university before humanity is allowed to benefit from it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AIIM_as_a_Better_Grant-Prize_Hybrid\"><\/span>AIIM as a Better Grant-Prize Hybrid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional science funding has two main forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Grants<\/strong> \u2014 money before results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prizes<\/strong> \u2014 money after recognized success.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both have weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grants can fund mediocre or politically safe projects. Prizes often arrive too late and reward only a few famous winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM combines the best parts of both:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>like grants, it can provide ongoing support;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>like prizes, it rewards demonstrated value;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>unlike both, it can distribute rewards continuously across many contributors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This makes AIIM closer to a <strong>scientific value-routing protocol<\/strong> than a conventional grant program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_This_Matters_for_Independent_Scientists\"><\/span>Why This Matters for Independent Scientists<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Independent researchers often face a catastrophic funding gap. They may produce valuable theoretical or software work, but without a university affiliation they are frequently excluded from grant eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not only unfair to the researcher. It is inefficient for humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a major scientific bottleneck is solved outside the university system, traditional grant mechanisms may still fail to finance it. That delays downstream science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM\u2019s purpose is to prevent this failure by creating a meritocratic funding layer above institutional boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AIIM_Is_Not_Anti-PhD\"><\/span>AIIM Is Not Anti-PhD<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM should not be misunderstood as hostility toward PhD students or professors. Many PhD researchers produce excellent work. Many grant-funded projects are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The target is not the PhD itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The target is <strong>monopoly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A healthy scientific economy should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>universities,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>grant agencies,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>independent researchers,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>open-source developers,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>citizen scientists,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>decentralized science communities,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI-assisted discovery systems,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>transparent funding protocols.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM adds the missing layer: <strong>open, auditable, contribution-based scientific finance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_From_Academic_Permission_to_Scientific_Merit\"><\/span>Conclusion: From Academic Permission to Scientific Merit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PhD science grants ask committees to predict who deserves funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM asks the scientific internet to measure which contributions actually matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That shift is profound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The future of science should not depend only on institutional affiliation, degree status, or proposal-writing skill. It should depend on real contribution, intellectual dependency, reproducibility, usage, and long-term value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>AIIM is a proposal for science funding after the internet: transparent, continuous, decentralized, and merit-based.<\/strong> \ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Support the project:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/donation\/\">Donate to Science DAO<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"scien-1254075417\" class=\"scien-after-content scien-entity-placement\"><section>\r\n\r\n<h2>Support Independent Science<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Supporting independent science is not only a matter of fairness to researchers whose expertise and work are often underfunded. It is also essential for addressing <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/who-are-science-marketers\/\">systemic failures in scientific publishing<\/a> that delay discoveries and leave important results unnoticed. In science and software, even one missing component can prevent an entire system from working.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Help valuable research and open-source infrastructure move forward.<\/strong> Please <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/donation\/\">make a donation<\/a><\/strong> to support <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/amateur-scientists\/\">independent scientists<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/free-software\/\">free software developers<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\r\n\t\tOur flagship product is <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/meritocracy\/\">AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/a> - an app, that unlike universities distributes money directly to researchers and open source developers, without bureaucracy.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section><\/div><div id=\"scien-1969190193\" class=\"scien-after-content-2 scien-entity-placement\"><div data-nosnippet style=\"max-width: 800px\">\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\">Ads:<\/p>\r\n<style>\r\n    \/* Compact Table Styling *\/\r\n    .amazon-ad-table {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        max-width: 800px;\r\n        border-collapse: collapse;\r\n        margin: 10px auto;\r\n        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\r\n        border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\r\n    }\r\n    .amazon-ad-table th {\r\n        background-color: #f3f3f3;\r\n        padding: 8px;\r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        border-bottom: 2px solid #ddd;\r\n        font-size: 0.9em;\r\n    }\r\n    .amazon-ad-table td {\r\n        padding: 8px 5px;\r\n        border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\r\n        vertical-align: middle;\r\n    }\r\n    \/* Column sizing *\/\r\n    .col-image { width: 15%; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding-top: 10px; }\r\n    .col-desc { width: 65%; }\r\n    .col-action { width: 20%; text-align: center; }\r\n\r\n    \/* Image Placeholder Styling *\/\r\n    \/* YOU WILL REPLACE THIS ENTIRE BLOCK WHEN YOU INSERT REAL AMAZON CODE *\/\r\n    .img-placeholder {\r\n        width: 80px;\r\n        height: 110px;\r\n        background-color: #eee;\r\n        border: 1px solid #ddd;\r\n        color: #666;\r\n        font-size: 0.7em;\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        justify-content: center;\r\n        align-items: center;\r\n        margin: 0 auto;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n    }\r\n    \r\n    \/* Typography - Smaller fonts and tighter line heights *\/\r\n    .product-title {\r\n        font-size: 1em;\r\n        font-weight: bold;\r\n        color: #007185;\r\n        text-decoration: none;\r\n        display: block;\r\n        margin-bottom: 2px;\r\n    }\r\n    .product-title:hover { color: #C7511F; text-decoration: underline; }\r\n    .product-author { \r\n        color: #565959; \r\n        font-size: 0.8em; \r\n        margin-bottom: 4px; \r\n    }\r\n    .product-blurb { \r\n        font-size: 0.85em; \r\n        line-height: 1.25;\r\n        color: #333; \r\n        margin: 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/* Compact Button Styling *\/\r\n    .amazon-button {\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n        background-color: #FFD814;\r\n        border: 1px solid #FCD200;\r\n        border-radius: 20px;\r\n        color: #0F1111;\r\n        padding: 6px 10px;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n        text-decoration: none;\r\n        font-size: 0.8em;\r\n        font-weight: bold;\r\n        box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);\r\n        transition: background-color 0.2s;\r\n        white-space: nowrap;\r\n    }\r\n    .amazon-button:hover { background-color: #F7CA00; border-color: #F2C200; cursor: pointer;}\r\n\r\n    \/* Disclosure *\/\r\n    .affiliate-disclosure {\r\n        font-size: 0.75em;\r\n        color: #565959;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n        margin-top: 5px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/* Responsive *\/\r\n    @media (max-width: 600px) {\r\n        .amazon-ad-table thead { display: none; }\r\n        .amazon-ad-table tr { display: flex; flex-direction: column; border-bottom: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; }\r\n        .amazon-ad-table td { width: 100%; border: none; padding: 5px 0; text-align: center; }\r\n        .col-desc { text-align: center; }\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n<table class=\"amazon-ad-table\">\r\n    <thead>\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <th>Description<\/th>\r\n            <th>Action<\/th>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n    <\/thead>\r\n    <tbody>\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0553380168?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">A Brief History of Time<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">by Stephen Hawking<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">A landmark volume in science writing exploring cosmology, black holes, and the nature of the universe in accessible language.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0553380168?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0393609391?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Astrophysics for People in a Hurry<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">by Neil deGrasse Tyson<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">Tyson brings the universe down to Earth clearly, with wit and charm, in chapters you can read anytime, anywhere.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0393609391?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n\r\n         <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=raspberry+pi+4+starter+kit&tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Raspberry Pi Starter Kits<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">Supports Computer Science Education<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">Inexpensive computers designed to promote basic computer science education. Buying kits supports this ecosystem.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=raspberry+pi+4+starter+kit&tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View Options<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0596002874?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">by Sam Williams<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">A detailed history of the free software movement, essential reading for understanding the philosophy behind open source.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0596002874?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n    <\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<div class=\"affiliate-disclosure\">\r\n    <p>As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases resulting from links on this page.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AIIM vs PhD Science Grants: Two Different Models of Scientific Power Traditional PhD science grants are built around a familiar hierarchy: The AI Internet-Meritocracy (AIIM) model proposes a different path: [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24054"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24057,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24054\/revisions\/24057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}