Independent Polymathic Researchers

Most researchers today are either Professors with research and publication as a critical component of their job description or are employed by research labs such that they trade their efforts and rewards for a salary.  The Polymathic Institute will use an independent researcher model with access to private and institutional funders.

Most polymathic intellectuals are members of the inappropriately excluded and because of educational tracks that are ill-suited to them both in pace and degree of expected specialization, they often have not advanced to a doctoral level of credentials.  Additionally, because of the Simonton Gap, they often have difficulty enjoying any influence in team environments.  

However, as Garth Zeitsman puts it, referring to the +3.5σ IQ intellect, 'They are the source of virtually all of humanity's advances'.  They should have access to research funds and the Institute will work diligently to make them available.

We have two routes to research funds, one short term and the other a longer term objective.  In the long term, the Institute will confer and promote a credential of Certified Polymath.  The institute will work toward  acceptance of Certified Polymath as equivalent to a PhD by journals, private and government research agencies.

In the short term, Institute Members may advertise for funding in The Polymath and Leonardo blogs.  Patrons will receive regular research updates.  This will be very effective with research projects about subjects that a portion of readers are passionate.  Examples might be Life Extension, SETI, AGI, robotics, space development, alternative clean energy sources, etc.

The numbers work out very well.  A Leonardo blogger with 200,000 readers per article will need 2,000USD in ad revenue which will equate to 20,000USD in research funding or 10¢ per reader.  If the average blogger has four researcher ads per week, the Network will generate 18K×4×341×52=1,276,704,000USD of research funding.

This translates to feasible support for at least 1,200 researchers.  Consequently, we strongly encourage Polymaths to begin strategizing on potential research projects.

In the longer term the Institute will confer Certification for Polymaths and undertake public relations programs to encourage government and institutional funding agencies to accept grant proposals from Certified Polymaths.