Sir

Mott Greene's Essay 'The demise of the lone author' (Nature 450, 1165; 2007) highlights the proliferation of multiple-author papers over the past century. Although collaborative efforts are essential and properly result in papers with many authors, I believe that funding agencies and institutions should also encourage single-author papers. The effort and initiative required to publish alone suggests an independent and tenacious scientist — both highly desirable qualities in any researcher.