Sociologist Ed Hackett studies the social structures and group dynamics within innovative scientific communities. For example, he has studied the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, an organization that fosters the synthesis of emerging ideas in disparate scientific disciplines and specializations. In this Hangout, Hackett—a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer—speaks with digital features editor Katie L. Burke about the history and outcomes of social organization in science, and what that means for those who wish to cultivate an innovative scientific environment.

A Storify of the Tweets detailing the discussion is shown below.

The Social Organization of Innovative Scientific Groups

Sociologist and Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer Ed Hackett discusses the history and outcomes of social organization in science, and what that means for those who wish to cultivate an innovative scientific environment.

1. 

   Social Organization of Innovative Scientific Groups, a G+ Hangout 3/23 3:30 pm ET  http://bit.ly/1MmlxJ6  #AmSciGHO pic.twitter.com/txxFPbL8r0

   SigmaXiSociety@SigmaXiSociety

   ·

   Wed, Mar 16 2016 12:33:36

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2. 

   Now: "The Social Organization of Innovative Scientific Groups" with Ed Hackett #AmSciGHO  http://bit.ly/1PbFKkS  pic.twitter.com/yJ8DaP1zk5

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   ·

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:30:40

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3. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Tremendous amount of historical change in the way that we organize scientific pursuits #AmSciGHO

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:43:55

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4. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Science and politics different vocations in sociologist Max Weber's time: #AmSciGHO Warns against Science becoming dependent on the State.

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:50:53

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5. 

   Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

   Ed Hackett: The question we're wrestling with now is one we've wrestled with for hundreds of years: How do we organize science? #AmSciGHO

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:52:32

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6. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   People have been wrestling with the questions about how to organize the scientific enterprise for hundreds of years. #AmSciGHO

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:52:58

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7. 

   Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

   Ed Hackett: Rethinking science orgs aids the imagination, relaxes one's thinking, & opens doors to thinking of science in new ways #AmSciGHO

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:54:41

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8. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Hackett: Doing the "right thing" goes back philosophically at least to Aristotle -- science should be guided as well by this ideal #AmSciGHO

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:55:18

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9. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Hackett studied scientific collaborations among others - 'observe a lot by just watching' (Yogi Berra) -- thanks to @NSF funding. #AmSciGHO

   Wed, Mar 23 2016 19:57:41

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10. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett: Ecology is place-based.To move the science forward a higher-level assembly of data was needed to create a broader view #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:00:52

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11. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    #AmSciGHO Hackett studied collaborations of @nceas -- bring lots of observations together, like to make a food web.

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:01:12

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12. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Intensity of emotion is important to scientific enterprise. - Ed Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:02:57

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13. 

    Hackett makes comparison between a good scientific collaboration and the fusion reaction in a tokamak. #AmSciGHO pic.twitter.com/COdZHW9Twu

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    ·

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:04:46

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14. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett: Work was initially inspired by observation, then fueled further by reading scholarship on creativity. #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:06:50

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15. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Hackett: Found certain dynamics essential for creativity. Emotional intensity, commitment to problem, mutual trust, even intimacy. #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:08:38

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16. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Other group studied by Hackett is @resilience_RA. #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:08:49

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17. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett: Did find that the bonding required w/in a group to foster creativity did raise the risk of groupthink. #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:09:36

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18. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Science depends upon managing the tension between competing values. Hackett refers to T. Kuhn's 'essential tension' of science. #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:09:59

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19. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Simply having a diverse group isn't sufficient -- you also have to have a context that encourages participation. --Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:12:15

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20. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Scientific groups need to be comfortable enough together for wild thinking but also ultimately levelheaded enough vet ideas #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:12:22

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21. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Groups perform better -- above their talent level -- if they balance the participation of all members. -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:12:56

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22. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett: Everyone in group needs to feel comfortable enough to speak in order to bring out fullest degree of group's creativity #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:13:49

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23. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    And if more #women involved in group leadership, then tends to have better participation in groups. -- Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:14:17

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24. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Hackett a good storyteller of tension particularly between more and less experienced scientists working in groups. #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:17:26

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25. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Have a practical application -- a "pressing need" in view -- to "lend urgency" to discussing a scientific problem. -Ed Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:20:08

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26. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    "The inspiration of use can drive powerful collaboration." -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:21:21

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27. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Cross-disciplinary, cross-sectional (different occupations) #trust very important to forging science collaborations. -Hackett #AmScGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:22:37

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28. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    #Trust also important in terms of #intellectualproperty and trusting others to be critical. Creates group harmony --Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:25:01

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29. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett: Building a climate of trust is essential to creative work. Also impt for the group to actually see itself as a group. #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:26:45

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30. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Sometimes literally isolating a group allows them to #collaboratetoinnovate. Think #retreat: encourages focus. -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:28:02

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31. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett:Eliminating physical, contextual cues frm the environment that designate "Sr" & "Jr" group members breaks down barriers #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:29:03

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32. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Even drinking together helpful. Might think of it as a distraction, but no: helps to think of others as whole people. #AmScGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:29:45

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33. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett:Also impt for group members get to know ea other, to see ea other as complete human beings,not as titles or professions #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:31:20

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34. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    The loss of @NSF funding is not a dishonor. They're not supposed to fund things forever. -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:32:52

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35. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Science organizations should develop a more full intellect in guiding the conduct of research, informed by #humanities. -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:35:26

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36. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Drawing underrepresented people/professions/minorities into scientific collaborations very important for innovation. -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:36:17

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37. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett: Linking knowledge, a sense of its application, & the right thing to do... 1/2 #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:37:24

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38. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Ed Hackett: These three things, when linked, are good for science innovation & they open paths for greater diversity. 2/2 #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:39:39

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39. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    A collaborative #retreat is not just a long meeting with coffee and donuts. Get out of the office and go for a hike, say. -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:37:26

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40. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Including in-person and cyber-mediated meetings increasingly important in order to engage a variety of people sustainably -Hackett #AmSciGHO

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:39:42

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41. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    That concludes our live Tweeting and this #AmSciGHO with sociologist Ed Hackett. Review the video here:  https://plus.google.com/events/c39hq51qc5n9o6u4voq1kjvbkao?hl=en …

    Wed, Mar 23 2016 20:42:05

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