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Starving Science
Washington Post ^ | May 29, 2004 | staff

Posted on 05/29/2004 6:51:29 AM PDT by liberallarry

THERE IS BOTH good news and bad news in the flurry of reports describing the decline of American preeminence in science. Falling numbers of scientific papers and prizes, as well as the relative drop in levels of funding and students, provide evidence of this decline. The good news is that it means other governments across the globe have begun investing heavily in basic scientific research. It also means that foreign companies have been investing in research and development, creating opportunities that make more people want scientific careers in their countries. More research anywhere creates more possibilities for innovation everywhere.

Yet the reports from the National Science Foundation and elsewhere indicate that the decline is not only relative. It is also absolute: American science is growing weaker, although not across the board. The boom in research and funding for the biological sciences -- including genetics and molecular biology -- has been matched by a decline in funding for, and interest in, physics and math.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: crevolist; nsf; research; science
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To: CasearianDaoist
The point that "Physicist" was trying to make was that there is some sort of anti-science animus abroad in FR, the conservative movement and one supposes the nation at large that somehow was an obstacle to government science funding. I do not see this, find it insulting and tend to feel that this gentleman is perhaps casting about to find someone or something to blame for his own career disappointments. You give me no reason here to adjust that perception. The point still stands.

I don't see creationists as being necessarily "anti-science" either. So long as they are willing (Dembski, et al) to frame conjectures like intelligent design as scientific hypotheses, such hypotheses are as worthy of a fair test as any other.

I see the real problem for both public and private science as being the hatred for science by the liberal arts establishment. When they write for newspapers, TV and Hollywood, their biases are evident - at least to people like us.

141 posted on 05/30/2004 2:46:59 PM PDT by BlazingArizona
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To: bondserv; xzins
A monument to the banned, an attempted indictment of FR's management. But who's the Moderator-pinginnest freeper of them all?

Heh, heh, heh. I have not advertised my profile once. I have explained it to one who asked and added a note to clarify its purpose to one who accused me of trying to hide my identity. Yet it seems to be like a pebble in a shoe to some. Just its purpose.

142 posted on 05/30/2004 2:51:29 PM PDT by AndrewC (I am a Bertrand Russell agnostic, even an atheist.</sarcasm>)
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To: CasearianDaoist
What is really scandalous is that Bush is letting the left paint him as "anti-science" which could not be farther from the case.

Hadn't noticed such painting, but agree with your conclusion.

I don't know about overall spending fluctuations but I do know that I still get paid. The way I see it, experimental physics (predominantly in the form of applied and material science, for industry and defense, etc.) is and will be the focus for physics as a field... I'm not saying that solely out of a sense of bias (though must admit to that sense-- hey, theorists look down on us just as much). Anecdotal "evidence": my job-hunting experience as an applied experimentalist, versus that of my colleagues in theoretical nuclear. Latter went much less smoothly...
Back to topic: "we're running out of funds!!!" hysteria never struck me hard because I have picked up some vague sense of how much is actually spent on real physics as opposed to Administration (which maketh a world of hurt) and all manner of compliance horse-sh!t. There is plenty of green.

143 posted on 05/30/2004 2:59:11 PM PDT by maxwell (Well I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation...)
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To: balrog666

And you are a mediocrity


144 posted on 05/30/2004 3:00:02 PM PDT by CasearianDaoist
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To: longshadow

Trailer Trollop placemarker.


145 posted on 05/30/2004 3:07:47 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Hic amor, haec patria est.)
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To: The Raven

you jest?


146 posted on 05/30/2004 3:10:09 PM PDT by King Prout (the difference between "trained intellect" and "indoctrinated intellectual" is an Abyssal gulf)
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To: CasearianDaoist
Shall I wax poetic in calling you a fool?

Nope, you aren't worth it.

147 posted on 05/30/2004 3:19:07 PM PDT by balrog666 (A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one.)
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To: balrog666; All

Very strange thread. Very strange.


148 posted on 05/30/2004 3:31:24 PM PDT by D Edmund Joaquin
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To: balrog666

Child.


149 posted on 05/30/2004 3:37:05 PM PDT by CasearianDaoist
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To: PatrickHenry

Anthony Troll-ope placemarker.

150 posted on 05/30/2004 3:37:32 PM PDT by RightWingAtheist
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To: CasearianDaoist
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA!

Why don't you go pontificate yourself to death, you blowhard.

151 posted on 05/30/2004 3:51:34 PM PDT by balrog666 (A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one.)
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To: balrog666

Ignorant twit.


152 posted on 05/30/2004 3:56:20 PM PDT by CasearianDaoist
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To: D Edmund Joaquin
Very strange thread. Very strange.

The culmination of a great many previous threads.

153 posted on 05/30/2004 3:56:32 PM PDT by balrog666 (A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one.)
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To: CasearianDaoist

Oh, come on, surely you can do better than that!?


154 posted on 05/30/2004 3:57:13 PM PDT by balrog666 (A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one.)
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To: balrog666

Ah. I don't get out much.


155 posted on 05/30/2004 3:57:41 PM PDT by D Edmund Joaquin
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Comment #156 Removed by Moderator

To: CasearianDaoist
"The dumbest people I know are those who know it all."

Malcolm must have been talking about you.

157 posted on 05/30/2004 4:25:56 PM PDT by balrog666 (A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one.)
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To: D Edmund Joaquin
Stay tuned - all will become clear.

Oh, and welcome to FreeRepublic!

158 posted on 05/30/2004 4:26:51 PM PDT by balrog666 (A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one.)
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To: balrog666

Why thank you. I was wondering what a Daoist is?


159 posted on 05/30/2004 4:32:42 PM PDT by D Edmund Joaquin
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To: BlazingArizona
I don't see creationists as being necessarily "anti-science" either. So long as they are willing (Dembski, et al) to frame conjectures like intelligent design as scientific hypotheses, such hypotheses are as worthy of a fair test as any other.

Agghhh!!! You're not supposed to know Dembski's a creationist! You're 100% right, of course, but it's supposed to be a secret.

As for testability, reports from people who can follow his mumbo-jumbo more directly than I indicate that the problem with Dembski's formulations is that thus far he's still sitting on the level of detailed specification that would make them testable.

160 posted on 05/30/2004 4:49:11 PM PDT by VadeRetro
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