Reproducibility Salon: Should Scientists Stand on Shoulders of Giants?

Reproducibility Salon will meet on Wednesday September 24th at 7pm to discuss whether it is a good idea for scientists to proceed by "standing on the shoulders of giants." The phrase, attributed to Isaac Newton, conveys modesty and perhaps captures some of the wonder of the cumulative nature of science at its best. But, in an era of intense competitive pressure, rockstar professors, big egos and toxic labs, is it a good idea for scientists to stand on the shoulders of giants, or should we build out more of a consensus approach? What if a "giant" in the chain is not a giant at all?