This is a hilariously bad idea.<p>As the author notes, there is no way to make conference presentations anonymous. But the problem is much bigger than that. Even most informal conversations between scientists involve promoting and discussing one&#x27;s own ideas and work.<p>How could hiring or awards work? It is simply not possible to make such decisions on meritocratic basis without individual credit for ideas. The only consistent way I could see that working is to make such applications anonymous, but at a certain point anonymity will inevitably break, if only for in-person interviews or once people are actually hired.<p>More broadly, complete anonymity is impossible, and incomplete attempts towards anonymity would only reinforce existing old-boys networks within science. Authorship would become a matter of gossip and innuendo, which would make it even harder for new-comers to break into science.