Nology

Nology is a proposed field of study concerned with novelty, including the origins, diffusion, and impact of new ideas, technologies, and practices. The term combines 'new' with the suffix '-ology' and is used by some scholars and writers to describe an interdisciplinary inquiry into how novelty emerges and shapes societies.

Nology overlaps with neology (the study of new words), innovation studies, science and technology studies, design theory, and the sociology of knowledge. Unlike more established disciplines, nology emphasizes processes of change, experimentation, and adoption across cultural, economic, and technological domains.

Methods used in nology include historical analysis, comparative case studies, systems modeling, qualitative interviews, bibliometrics, and scenario planning. Researchers may investigate drivers of novelty, barriers to adoption, risk, ethical implications, and how novelty interacts with institutions, markets, and culture.

Applications of nology could inform policy development, business strategy, education, and the design of new products or services, by providing frameworks to anticipate how novelty arises and propagates through societies.

History and reception: The term nology is not universally standardized and remains more common in speculative, interdisciplinary, or proposal-stage discussions than in formal academic programs.

See also: Neology; Innovation studies; Science and technology studies; Futures studies; Design thinking.