Really cool, thanks for the details. It's reminiscent of a plot point in a sci-fi I'm reading, Zendegi - the protagonist is hell-bent on cracking the problem of simulating the brain in a computer, but funding is running out. Her coworker excitedly explains that he's awarded a grant for his project: simulating the interactions of microbe species in latrines, for purposes of preventing outbreaks of disease. He wants our protagonist to jump ship on the brain stuff, says it will always be there, that she can do some real good right now, and the skills will transfer over, she won't be wasting her time learning how to simulate the microbial communities in poop.

(Alas, an eccentric billionaire with hopes of uploading himself to a supercomputer swoops in to fund the mind-mapping project...)