# How to protect research ideas as a junior scientist **URL:** \ **Category:** Academia\ **Created:** [November 27, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/how-to-protect-research-ideas-as-a-junior-scientist/1803 "2022-11-27T15:34:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 9
**Author:** ![Gavin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/439d5e/32.png) [@Gavin](https://onscienceandacademia.org/u/Gavin)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/how-to-protect-research-ideas-as-a-junior-scientist/1803/9 "2023-12-10T21:02:57Z")
> [1] independent researchers must feel themselves as socially accepted by other potential/actual colleagues; [2] independent researchers must be engaged in highly motivated communities that have an internal core group around which turnover is well managed; [3] they work better in those circumstances where they are more likely to change jobs as it is mentally rejuvenating to expose one’s mind to as many different stimuli as possible; [4] their expectations about life must be supported positively and not depressed by adverse events; [5] profit-seeking attitudes must be diverted to achieve win-win outcomes as more as possible. This is a good list to work form @Enrico_Gabriele! Personally, I feel that [2] is generally lacking at the moment - IGDORE provides an institutional affiliation for many independent researchers (which helps with [1]) and many are individually motivated, but I don’t think we provide much community support for affiliates (Ronin might do better). It’s something I would love to improve, but we haven’t had the resources yet. Regarding [4], I think this ties into getting an income as an independent researcher, which is hard. We have previously discussed the idea of a UBI for researchers on the forum: [Universal basic income: What would it mean for researchers?](https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/universal-basic-income-what-would-it-mean-for-researchers/614) and [A new paradigm for the scientific enterprise: nurturing the ecosystem - #9 by alex.lancaster](https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/a-new-paradigm-for-the-scientific-enterprise-nurturing-the-ecosystem/721/9). While it is exciting, it’s hard to make happen. Regarding citation practice, I’m not convinced that citations to retracted papers is a major problem, although applying a correction factor to journal metrics for publishing retracted papers might make journals more cautious about publishing flawed work. --- _[View the full topic](https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/how-to-protect-research-ideas-as-a-junior-scientist/1803)._