Meanings
- uncountableTraditional scientific research that is conducted by individual researchers or small teams and funded by academic or scientific institutions.
There is a story, possibly true, that illustrates forcefully the difference between contemporary big science and traditional, small science – science as it used to be before World War II.
2013, J. Agassi, Science and Culture, →ISBN, page 3592 more examples
But, particularly in this Oversight Hearing on NSF, it is important to take note of essential characteristics of small science and of the benefit of such projects to the entire scientific enterprise. Small science projects are more apt to be scrutinized at every stage by peers, as they are conceived, designed, described, reviewed, conducted, assessed, and published. Small science helps more in producing the next generation of scientists; this becomes particularly critical as we seek to attract more women and minorities into science.
1991, Robert M. Gavin, “Testimony”, in Fiscal Year 1992 and 1993 National Science Foundation Authorization, page 108However, when juxtaposed to other traditions, big science is unlike small science, which by definition is less ensnared in bureaucratic turf protecting, institution building, and financial and intellectual reward incentives.
1996, Laura Nader, Naked Science: Anthropological Inquiry Into Boundaries, Power, and Knowledge, →ISBNSynonyms: little science · Antonyms: Big Science, big science, megascience
Synonyms & antonyms
nounTraditional scientific research that is conducted by individual researchers or small teams and funded by academic or scientific institutions.
Origin
By contrast to Big Science.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
small science. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/small%20science
“small science.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/small%20science. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “small science,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/small%20science.
Source: small science on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.