Hundreds of federal scientists miss conferences in shutdown

Associated Press ^ | January 6, 2019 | Claire Galofaro

[Olog-hai]

The world’s largest airborne observatory was supposed to be parked in Seattle this week, so thousands of scientists attending the “Super Bowl of Astronomy” could behold this marvel: a Boeing 747 outfitted with a massive telescope used to study the fundamental mysteries of the universe.

But conference-goers will not be able to see NASA’s space-exploring plane. Its visit to the 233^rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society was canceled, one of a growing list of scientific casualties of the partial government shutdown now stretching into its third week.

Along with the plane, hundreds of government scientists are also no longer allowed to attend the conference or two other major scientific gatherings scheduled to begin this week. Those meetings will address pressing issues in the fields of technology, space exploration, extreme weather and climate change.

But the shutdown’s impact on science stretches well beyond the empty chairs at this week’s conferences, said Keith Seitter, executive director of the American Meteorological Society. It means some of the nation’s smartest scientific minds are sitting at home, not doing science, for weeks, with no clear end in sight. …

[1Old Pro]

Whatever, like Trump says, they’ll “adjust”.

[hal ogen]

Federal government “workers” miss vacay (trip to conference)? Who cares? They probably should be fired anyway. Most of them shuffle papers and watch porn.

[oldvirginian]

So the various global warmist tribes won’t be able to conference on the taxpayers dime?
I don’t see the problem myself.

[moovova]

Women, children and Global Warming Alarmists hit hardest.

[American in Israel]

What does a “Federal Scientist” do? How much does one cost me a year? How much does a hundred cost? A thousand?

How much money did we save not having this caviar laced show and tell?

I an starting to really like government shutdowns...

[Dixie Yooper]

Whoever puts on the conference, is best served by a well attended conference. Those who attend, see old friends, make new and annoy each other at every tech function, by asking the most profound, thought provoking questions, until the speaker has run out of time to tell any of them what they came to hear.

[Zathras]

They didn’t go because they are not going to get paid to go.
Shocking....

[ssfromla]

...hundreds of government scientists are also no longer allowed to attend the conference or two other major scientific gatherings scheduled to begin this week.

Good. Throw a lavish party with your own money.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I guess that means Neal DeGrasse Tyson won’t be able to sexually harass anyone. {cymbal crash}

[Fresh Wind]

That phrase, “federal scientists” . . .

Those are scientists who can't hack it in the private sector or academia.

[Wuli]

OMG!!!! How terrible, that they are missing out on all that government paid travel, which often can be as “officially productive” as a “conference” on underwater basket weaving.

[GailA]

Think of the Money Saved by not having to move the stupid thing.

[mtack]

Flat Earth Convention: 1
Super bowl of Astronomy: 0

[The_Media_never_lie]

Feral scientists?