{"id":24094,"date":"2026-06-23T11:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T11:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/?p=24094"},"modified":"2026-07-03T07:47:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T07:47:38","slug":"non-discriminatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/","title":{"rendered":"AIIM as Non-Discriminatory Grants: Why Traditional Science Funding Needs a Meritocratic Upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"scien-3263606227\" 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\/non-discriminatory\/#Introduction_the_discrimination_problem_in_traditional_grants\" >Introduction: the discrimination problem in traditional grants<\/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\/non-discriminatory\/#What_is_AIIM\" >What is AIIM?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#Why_traditional_grants_become_discriminatory\" >Why traditional grants become discriminatory<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#1_Prestige_bias\" >1. Prestige bias<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#2_Committee_conservatism\" >2. Committee conservatism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#3_Career-stage_discrimination\" >3. Career-stage discrimination<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#4_Identity_and_network_effects\" >4. Identity and network effects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#5_Anti-independent-researcher_bias\" >5. Anti-independent-researcher bias<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/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\/non-discriminatory\/#AIIM_as_a_non-discriminatory_grant_system\" >AIIM as a non-discriminatory grant system<\/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\/non-discriminatory\/#How_AIIM_reduces_discrimination\" >How AIIM reduces discrimination<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#1_It_evaluates_outputs_not_social_status\" >1. It evaluates outputs, not social status<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#2_It_can_fund_independent_scientists\" >2. It can fund independent scientists<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#3_It_can_be_audited\" >3. It can be audited<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#4_It_can_reward_neglected_foundational_work\" >4. It can reward neglected foundational work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#5_It_avoids_the_%E2%80%9Csingle_committee_bottleneck%E2%80%9D\" >5. It avoids the \u201csingle committee bottleneck\u201d<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#AIIM_vs_traditional_grants_the_core_comparison\" >AIIM vs traditional grants: the core comparison<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#Why_lotteries_are_not_enough\" >Why lotteries are not enough<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#Why_AIIM_matters_for_donors\" >Why AIIM matters for donors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#Non-discrimination_does_not_mean_anti-merit\" >Non-discrimination does not mean anti-merit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#The_deeper_issue_science_funding_is_a_governance_problem\" >The deeper issue: science funding is a governance problem<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/non-discriminatory\/#Conclusion_AIIM_as_the_non-discriminatory_future_of_science_grants\" >Conclusion: AIIM as the non-discriminatory future of science grants<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction_the_discrimination_problem_in_traditional_grants\"><\/span>Introduction: the discrimination problem in traditional grants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional scientific grant systems claim to fund the best research. In practice, they often fund the best-connected, most institutionally protected, and most conventionally legible researchers. This is not always intentional discrimination. Often it is structural discrimination: a system that rewards prestige, institutional affiliation, prior funding, insider language, and committee consensus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evidence of unequal grant outcomes is not speculative. A major NIH-linked study found that Asian applicants and Black or African-American applicants were less likely than white applicants to receive NIH investigator-initiated research funding, with Black applicants showing a particularly large gap. Later analysis and commentary found that efforts to close racial funding gaps at NIH had not fully solved the problem. Studies have also found gender-related disparities in grant success, including evidence that men have higher odds of receiving grants in aggregate peer-review grant procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is exactly the class of problem that <strong>AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/strong>, or <strong>AIIM<\/strong>, is designed to address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Internal links:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/meritocracy\/\">AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/a> \u00b7 <a>Donate to Science<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/scientific-funding\/\">Scientific Funding<\/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=\"What_is_AIIM\"><\/span>What is AIIM?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/meritocracy\/\">AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/a><\/strong> is a proposed system for funding science and open-source work according to measurable intellectual contribution rather than committee approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a traditional grant system, money is distributed before the work is done, based on a proposal, institutional reputation, CV, letters, and reviewer judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In AIIM, funding would move toward a more continuous, evidence-based model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Traditional grants<\/th><th>AIIM<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Proposal-first<\/td><td>Contribution-first<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Committee judgment<\/td><td>Algorithmic and AI-assisted evaluation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Institutional prestige matters<\/td><td>Public contribution graph matters<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>One-time funding rounds<\/td><td>Continuous funding flows<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Grant writing skill is rewarded<\/td><td>Scientific dependency and usefulness are rewarded<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>High risk of insider bias<\/td><td>Designed for auditability and non-discrimination<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM does not merely \u201cmake grants fairer.\u201d It changes the unit of evaluation. Instead of asking, \u201cDoes this committee like this proposal?\u201d AIIM asks, \u201cWhat scientific work does the global knowledge network actually depend on?\u201d<\/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_traditional_grants_become_discriminatory\"><\/span>Why traditional grants become discriminatory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grants can discriminate through several mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Prestige_bias\"><\/span>1. Prestige bias<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers from famous universities often look safer to reviewers. Independent researchers, researchers from weak institutions, and researchers without a standard academic path may be treated as risky even when their ideas are strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is especially harmful for frontier science. Transformative discoveries often look strange before they become obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Committee_conservatism\"><\/span>2. Committee conservatism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peer-review panels tend to prefer proposals that are understandable, conventional, and close to existing paradigms. This creates a bias against interdisciplinary, foundational, or radically new work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 2024 PNAS article on alternative research funding models notes that mainstream grant systems face serious limitations and that alternatives include lotteries, more investigator-based funding, and other structural changes. The existence of these alternatives shows that the problem is not just \u201cbad reviewers\u201d; it is the architecture of funding itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Career-stage_discrimination\"><\/span>3. Career-stage discrimination<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early-career researchers usually have fewer publications, fewer citations, fewer famous collaborators, and less grant-writing experience. A system that claims to evaluate \u201cmerit\u201d can therefore end up evaluating accumulated advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Identity_and_network_effects\"><\/span>4. Identity and network effects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Race, gender, nationality, disability, religion, institutional background, and personal history can all affect how a researcher is perceived. Even when reviewers try to be fair, opaque human judgment is vulnerable to hidden bias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research on NIH grant feedback found that women and men may translate review feedback differently into motivation and future reapplication behavior, meaning the grant process can affect not only who wins money, but who stays in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Anti-independent-researcher_bias\"><\/span>5. Anti-independent-researcher bias<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grants are usually built around institutions. A researcher outside the university system may have no realistic access to serious funding, even if their work is valuable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the largest blind spots in modern 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=\"AIIM_as_a_non-discriminatory_grant_system\"><\/span>AIIM as a non-discriminatory grant system<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM can be described as a <strong>non-discriminatory grant infrastructure<\/strong> because it reduces dependence on the social signals that traditional grants overuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The system should not ask first:<\/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\">\u201cWhich university employs this person?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It should ask:<\/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\">\u201cWhich scientific dependencies, citations, replications, applications, and downstream discoveries rely on this contribution?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is a more meritocratic question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_AIIM_reduces_discrimination\"><\/span>How AIIM reduces discrimination<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_It_evaluates_outputs_not_social_status\"><\/span>1. It evaluates outputs, not social status<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grants often evaluate promises. AIIM evaluates work, dependencies, and demonstrated usefulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This matters because proposals can be shaped by privilege. Strong grant writing, institutional support, recommendation letters, and access to insider norms are not the same as scientific value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_It_can_fund_independent_scientists\"><\/span>2. It can fund independent scientists<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM can support researchers who are outside universities, outside elite networks, or outside grant-writing culture. This is crucial for people who were pushed out of institutions, discriminated against, or simply chose independent research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A non-discriminatory science system must not assume that universities are the only legitimate source of discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_It_can_be_audited\"><\/span>3. It can be audited<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A traditional grant rejection is often hard to challenge. The reasoning is private, partial, or expressed in vague reviewer language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM should be auditable: the ranking logic, dependency graph, citation signals, usage signals, and payout mechanisms should be inspectable. This does not remove all bias, but it makes bias easier to detect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_It_can_reward_neglected_foundational_work\"><\/span>4. It can reward neglected foundational work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some scientific work is not immediately fashionable but later becomes essential. Traditional panels may reject such work as too abstract. AIIM can track long-term dependency: if later work depends on an earlier theory, method, dataset, software library, or mathematical structure, the earlier contributor can receive ongoing recognition and funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is especially relevant for foundational mathematics, theoretical science, and open-source infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_It_avoids_the_%E2%80%9Csingle_committee_bottleneck%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>5. It avoids the \u201csingle committee bottleneck\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grants concentrate power in panels. AIIM distributes evaluation across a knowledge graph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That shift matters. A committee can ignore a discovery. A dependency network cannot easily ignore a contribution that many later works rely on.<\/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_vs_traditional_grants_the_core_comparison\"><\/span>AIIM vs traditional grants: the core comparison<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Criterion<\/th><th>Traditional scientific grants<\/th><th>AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Main decision-maker<\/td><td>Human panels<\/td><td>AI-assisted, transparent merit system<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main object evaluated<\/td><td>Proposal<\/td><td>Actual contribution<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Timing<\/td><td>Before research<\/td><td>During and after research<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bias risk<\/td><td>High: prestige, identity, institution, networks<\/td><td>Lower if designed with auditability and anti-bias constraints<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Accessibility<\/td><td>Hard for independent researchers<\/td><td>Open to independent researchers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Funding style<\/td><td>Discrete awards<\/td><td>Continuous flows<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Treatment of unpopular ideas<\/td><td>Often weak<\/td><td>Better if downstream value emerges<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Accountability<\/td><td>Limited<\/td><td>Potentially public and algorithmic<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best suited for<\/td><td>Conventional project funding<\/td><td>Discovery, open science, FOSS, foundational research<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\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_lotteries_are_not_enough\"><\/span>Why lotteries are not enough<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some researchers have proposed partial lotteries for grant funding. Evidence suggests lottery-first or lottery-assisted models may reduce certain costs and increase participation by underrepresented groups. A 2025 study of a German funding line found that a lottery-first approach was associated with increased female representation and lower estimated costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But lotteries are still crude. They reduce bias by adding randomness, not by measuring merit better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM is stronger because it does not simply say:<\/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\">\u201cWhen humans cannot decide, randomize.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It says:<\/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\">\u201cBuild a better evidence system for scientific value.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Randomness may be useful in some edge cases, especially where proposals are indistinguishable. But the long-term solution is not blind chance. The long-term solution is transparent, dependency-aware, post-publication meritocracy.<\/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_AIIM_matters_for_donors\"><\/span>Why AIIM matters for donors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donors often want to support science but face a hard question:<\/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\">\u201cHow do I know my money goes to real scientific value?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional charities and universities can absorb donations into administration, prestige projects, or politically safe research. AIIM offers a different promise: route funding toward measurable contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That makes AIIM attractive for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>donors who want to fund independent scientists;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>philanthropists who want measurable impact;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>open science supporters;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DeSci communities;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people concerned about discrimination in academia;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people who believe science funding should be global, transparent, and merit-based.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To support this model, visit:<br><a>Donate to Science<\/a> \ud83d\ude80<\/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=\"Non-discrimination_does_not_mean_anti-merit\"><\/span>Non-discrimination does not mean anti-merit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common mistake is to oppose non-discrimination and meritocracy, as if they were enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Real meritocracy requires non-discrimination. If a system excludes people because they lack prestige, belong to the wrong institution, have the wrong social background, or work on unfashionable ideas, then it is not meritocratic. It is aristocratic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM\u2019s claim is simple:<\/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\">Science funding should follow intellectual contribution, not institutional caste.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not \u201ccharity for outsiders.\u201d It is a better allocation mechanism for civilization.<\/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_deeper_issue_science_funding_is_a_governance_problem\"><\/span>The deeper issue: science funding is a governance problem<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grant systems are not neutral pipelines. They are governance systems. They decide which ideas live, which researchers survive, which fields grow, and which discoveries are delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When grant committees are biased, slow, conservative, or prestige-driven, the whole civilization pays the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM reframes science funding as a public, auditable, AI-assisted merit network. That makes it more compatible with the internet age than closed committees built for the bureaucratic university age.<\/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_AIIM_as_the_non-discriminatory_future_of_science_grants\"><\/span>Conclusion: AIIM as the non-discriminatory future of science grants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grants are not evil. They have funded enormous scientific progress. But they are structurally limited: opaque, committee-centered, prestige-sensitive, and often inaccessible to independent researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIIM offers a better direction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>fund actual contribution;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reduce discrimination by reducing dependence on social status;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>support independent and unconventional researchers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reward downstream scientific usefulness;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>make science funding transparent and auditable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A fair science system should not ask whether a researcher belongs to the right institution. It should ask whether their work advances human knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is the promise of <strong>AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/meritocracy\/\">AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/scientific-funding\/\">Scientific Funding Reform<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/donation\/\">Donate to Science<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"scien-1091581922\" 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-2248419688\" 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>Introduction: the discrimination problem in traditional grants Traditional scientific grant systems claim to fund the best research. In practice, they often fund the best-connected, most institutionally protected, and most conventionally [&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-24094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24094","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=24094"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24095,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24094\/revisions\/24095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}