Bring us a problem

The problem you keep explaining in office hours

Experts carry knowledge about problems that has nowhere to be published: what is stuck in your field, why past attempts failed, what a newcomer should know before trying. This collection is made of that knowledge, 613 problems so far. Bring us one. It goes through the same checks as everything else here, and a person reviews it. If it passes, it is published as a brief at a stable address, with your name on it if you want the credit.

What’s the problem?

A few sentences, the way you’d tell a colleague. What’s stuck, and why isn’t it solved?

Why does it matter, and how do you know?

e.g. "46 million structures are at risk; owners who comply with the code still lose their buildings."

What's been tried, and why hasn't it worked?

Name the serious attempts, such as programs, methods, or products, and where each one stalls.

How would we know it's being solved?

What would you measure, and what would move?

Your source: a link to where experts discuss this

An agency report, a standards roadmap, a paper. We check every source.

Keywords

Your field

Your name

Email (for our reply)

Affiliation (optional)

ORCID (optional)

If my problem is accepted, credit me by name on the published brief.Optional. Accepted problems are published either way, and you can change your mind later.

Whatever you choose above: we store your answers and contact email, visible to the research team while your submission is reviewed.

A human reads every submission; you’ll hear from us by email.