Outline of Big Science

Big Science is a term used by scientists and historians of science to describe a series of changes in science which occurred in industrial nations during and after World War II.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Big Science.

Essence of Big Science

• Basic research
• Big budgets - Research funding by governments. For example, see Federal grant.
• Big projects (with big staffs) - Genome Project, NASA, CERN etc.
• Big machines - Cyclotron, Space shuttle, ISS, Very Large Array, etc.
• Big laboratories - Bell Labs, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, PARC, SAP Labs, etc.

Areas of Big Science

• Military science and military technology
  • Manhattan Project ^[1]
• Physics
  • Shiva laser → Nova laser → National Ignition Facility
• Space exploration
• Life sciences
  • Human Genome Project

History of Big Science

Main article: History of Big Science

• Technology during World War II
• Cold War
• Nuclear arms race
• Space race
• Military funding of science

References