Scientific Problem Selection

This is a structured framework for helping scientists choose better research problems, based on Fischbach & Walsh's decision tree methodology. It gives you three entry points: pitch a new idea, troubleshoot a stuck project, or ask a strategic question. From there it walks you through nine specific skills like intuition pumps, risk assessment, and parameter strategy. The core insight is that scientists typically spend days choosing problems and years solving them, which is backwards. What I like here is the conversational scaffolding. It doesn't dump theory on you, it asks for a short version first, reflects it back, then goes deeper. Useful if you're actually doing research and need to think through project selection systematically rather than just following your gut.