A world of specialists.
What if a team of generalists was to uncover what lies behind the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon?
David Epstein’s excellent book "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" explores the idea that, in an increasingly specialized world, generalists, meaning people with a variety of experiences and skills, can succeed as well, if not better than specialists. The author argues that versatility and diversification of skills can be significant assets in a complex and ever-evolving environment. The book presents examples and case studies to support this thesis.
One case not mentioned in the book but which represents this approach well is undoubtedly the Manhattan Project, which resulted in the creation of the first atomic bomb during World War II and indeed involved individuals from different backgrounds, not just physicists. It was a massive interdisciplinary effort that called upon scientists, engineers, mathematicians, chemists, technicians, military personnel, and many other skills.
In addition to notable physicists such as Robert Oppenheimer, the project relied on diverse skills for the design, manufacturing, and testing of the components necessary for the atomic bomb. It also mobilized experts in logistics, security, engineering, and project management to coordinate this complex effort. The success of the Manhattan Project demonstrated the importance of bringing together talents from various fields all working towards a common goal. Los Alamos, New Mexico, was the central research and development site for creating this first atomic bomb, and it was a highly secretive facility.
An interview (November 1989) between George Knapp and scientist Bob Lazar became famous due to the latter's sensational claims regarding his alleged work at a secret government facility called "S-4," near Area 51. During this interview, Lazar mentioned that Americans were in possession of extraterrestrial vehicles and that he was tasked with understanding their operation and reverse-engineering them. Just recently, David Grush, a US intelligence officer and whistleblower, thirty years after Lazar's account, mentioned exactly the same thing - that Americans do possess exotic materials, and even biological entities.
Lazar specified that the project he was working on was highly compartmentalized. He explained that scientists and researchers involved in reverse-engineering these extraterrestrial vehicles only received limited and specific information. Each had a restricted role and was not allowed to know the full extent of the project. According to Lazar, this was aimed at maintaining secrecy and preventing the disclosure of sensitive information. He claimed that it was extremely difficult for him to obtain even minimal snippets of detailed information about the extraterrestrial technology he was purportedly working on.
The intriguing narratives from David Epstein's book "Range," the Manhattan Project, or those proclaimed by Bob Lazar and David Grush highlight an essential common thread: the diversification of skills and interdisciplinary collaboration are the keys to success, even in the most complex fields. Whether it's creating an atomic bomb, studying extraterrestrial technologies, or tackling other scientific challenges, desperate times call for desperate measures. The combination of diverse talents and skills can lead to solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems. If it turns out that Bob Lazar, David Grush, and other whistleblowers are telling the truth and if the approach used to investigate Unidentified Aerial Phenomena mobilized interdisciplinary, collaborative teams as well as some seasoned generalists, it is highly likely that we would not be where we are today.
Translated from French by Guillaume Fournier Airaud
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0