Innovators shape new fields by spreading influential ideas, study finds.
In this study, researchers looked at how influential people shape new fields by spreading their ideas. They found that these leaders use their resources to convince others to adopt their way of thinking, which then shapes the rules and norms of the new field. By studying synthetic biology, they learned that these pioneers draw ideas from different areas and have specific strategies to influence the field. This research can help us understand how new fields develop and how people can make a difference in shaping them.