Did you set the technology cost multiplier to 0? There's a known problem with pre 0.15.2 that allowed it to be non-positive which results in the crash you're getting. The same crash happens in 0.15.2 if you leave the field empty. This is most likely the case. I was playing a little bit with numbers...

I just started a new map on 15.2 and when i tried to place my very first science lab the game crashed.

I tried it on several places, and every time the game freezes and crash immediately after i place the lab somewhere.