diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/processor.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/processor.rs
index 5e0f5786..ac553023 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/processor.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/processor.rs
@@ -272,7 +272,12 @@ impl TurnProcessor {
         let player = &mut state.players[pi];
         let culture = *player.strategic_axes.get("culture").unwrap_or(&2);
         let city_count = player.cities.len() as u32;
-        let science_per_turn = culture as u32 * city_count * 25;
+        // Science scales with culture^1.5 to reward specialists. This gives
+        // culture=5 a ~4x advantage per city over culture=2, ensuring the
+        // tech_rusher (culture=5, fewer cities) beats expansionist (culture=2,
+        // many cities) to science victory.
+        let science_per_turn =
+            ((culture as f64).powf(1.5) * city_count as f64 * 15.0) as u32;
         player.science_yield = science_per_turn;
 
         if let Some(ref vc) = self.victory_config {
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/victory.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/victory.rs
index 9b5c0153..60c98feb 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/victory.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-turn/src/victory.rs
@@ -339,9 +339,9 @@ mod tests {
             "economic victory should be reachable within 400 turns (got T{gold_turns})"
         );
 
-        // Science: culture_axis=5 (scientist), 20 cities → 5*20*25 = 2500/turn.
+        // Science: culture_axis=5 (scientist), 20 cities → 5^1.5*20*15 = 3354/turn.
         // Cost per tech = base * index^1.4; total ≈ base * sum(i^1.4 for i=1..N).
-        let science_per_turn = (axis_5 * 20.0 * 25.0) as f64;
+        let science_per_turn = axis_5.powf(1.5) * 20.0 * 15.0;
         let total_science_needed: f64 = (1..=config.science_techs_required.len())
             .map(|i| config.science_cost_base as f64 * (i as f64).powf(1.4))
             .sum();