The Importance of Science
PreviousThe United States has been the preeminent force in the world economy for the past 50 years because it has been the leader in technology innovation. The abrupt changes in government funding for scientific research now being proposed by the current administration can stop this innovation engine in its tracks. Our economic competitiveness is a direct result of the academic powerhouse this nation created through funding provided by The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and other government agencies. The development of optical fibers, microchips, personal computers, mobile technology, robotics, and more could not have happened without initial funding provided to basic research labs at our nation’s universities.
This is not only an academic concern. Industry, physicians, entrepreneurs, politicians, and academic researchers have to come together to find a more economically viable solution to modernize government funding for all types of scientific research. We do need to streamline how academic research is funded, as well as how the information generated is published and distributed; however, this must be done in a thoughtful and strategic manner that is not destructive to an important cornerstone of our economy.
Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University