How do scientists explore the vast and ever-growing landscape of knowledge? Can we measure how new ideas emerge and spread?

In this talk, I presented our ongoing research on quantifying the exploration of the knowledge space, combining methods from network science, spatial mobility, and learning theory. Drawing on a unique dataset of 1.5 million open-access preprints from arXiv across Physics, Computer Science, Biology, and more, we traced the “research trajectories” of scientists as they navigate, explore, and exploit ideas over time.

Our findings reveal patterns in how researchers move through the knowledge space—sometimes as explorers, venturing into new territories, and sometimes as exploiters, deepening existing fields. This ecological perspective on knowledge foraging offers fresh insights into the evolution of science and innovation, with potential applications for research policy and collective learning.

📄 You can read the related article.