The Broken Science Initiative

The Broken Science Initiative (BSI) is a reform movement dedicated to addressing what its founders see as systemic failures in modern scientific practice. Established by Greg Glassman, founder of CrossFit, and Emily Kaplan, BSI argues that much of today’s scientific output lacks predictive power, is poorly validated, and is too often driven by institutional incentives rather than truth.

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Why BSI Says Modern Science Is “Broken”

BSI’s critique centers on the idea that science has shifted away from rigorous, model-based validation. According to the initiative, true science is defined by its ability to generate predictive models—frameworks that can reliably forecast future outcomes. Many modern scientific papers, they argue, prioritize statistical significance over meaningful prediction, leading to the widely documented replication crisis, in which major findings cannot be reproduced.

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This problem, BSI claims, creates what Glassman calls “epistemic corruption.” When flawed models are accepted as scientific fact, those errors can filter into public policy, medicine, and education, causing real-world harm.

Education, Societies, and Community Building

To address these issues, BSI operates several educational arms:

• The Medical Society, which trains healthcare professionals to better evaluate research quality, statistical claims, and scientific models.
• The Educational Society, which provides resources for parents, teachers, and lifelong learners to understand how science should work.
• Public cohorts and courses, which teach logic, probability theory, and the philosophy of science.

BSI’s approach emphasizes community learning and open discussion over traditional academic hierarchy. Central to its mission is helping ordinary people become better consumers and critics of scientific information.

MetFix: A Practical Application

One of BSI’s most visible projects is MetFix, a health and fitness program grounded in what BSI calls “validated, predictive science.” Building on Glassman’s experience with CrossFit, MetFix focuses on using evidence-based exercise and nutrition to combat chronic disease. Rather than relying on consensus-driven public health guidelines, MetFix trains coaches to use rigorously tested methods and to understand the scientific logic behind them.

It is an example of how BSI aims not only to critique broken science but also to demonstrate how scientific principles can be applied more effectively in real-world settings.

Public Outreach: Podcasts and Seminars

BSI also publishes a podcast featuring thinkers like statistician William Briggs, physicians, and scientific philosophers. These discussions explore issues such as model building, probability, research integrity, and scientific ethics. Through seminars and speaking events, BSI engages both professionals and the general public in conversations about how to rebuild a trustworthy scientific culture.

Criticism and Challenges

While BSI has gained a dedicated following, it is not without critics. Some scholars argue that BSI’s rhetoric risks undermining public trust in science as a whole. Others question whether its philosophical approach can be scaled into institutional change. Nonetheless, supporters believe BSI offers an essential corrective to modern scientific culture.

A Movement for Scientific Renewal

At its core, the Broken Science Initiative aims to restore what it sees as the original purpose of science: creating reliable, predictive models of the world. By promoting transparency, logic, and accountability, BSI hopes to spark a new scientific renaissance—one in which evidence, not authority, forms the bedrock of knowledge.

^{This content was prepared with the assistance of AI.}