Drew Wilson
January 17th, 2010, 03:27 PM
IF YOU'RE planning watch a DVD today, listen to a CD, play a computer game, go to a supermarket, browse the web, or do 100 other everyday tasks, spare a thought for the invention that has shaped our lives and revolutionised our manufacturing industries: the laser.
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Which brings us to Lord Mandelson, now in charge of all government funding of universities and academic research. He has no personal experience of research in science or technology, but, like many people whose minds are unclouded by knowledge, has strong views on these matters.
In his first speech after taking control of Britain's research spending, for example, he "made no apology for prioritising research that would contribute to Britain's future prosperity". The occasion was the celebration of the centenary of the Science Museum, and Mandy left his listeners in no doubt that he will continue government policy of allocating more of the £6bn science budget to areas with commercial applications – in other words, areas that the government (and its industrial advisers) think will yield short-term benefits for Britain.
Meanwhile, at the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the geniuses who presided over the disaster of the Research Assessment Exercise – which sets funding to universities based on the perceived "value" of their research – have been adjusting to the Mandel*son line. They are working on a "Research Excellence Framework" which will require applicants for funding to cite "demonstrable benefits to the economy, society, public policy, culture and quality of life". This bodes ill for any scientist or engineer interested in curiosity-driven research.
More... (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/17/lasers-government-funding-peter-mandelson)
I guess a governments war on science isn't exclusive to the Conservative party of Canada. :frown:
[...]
Which brings us to Lord Mandelson, now in charge of all government funding of universities and academic research. He has no personal experience of research in science or technology, but, like many people whose minds are unclouded by knowledge, has strong views on these matters.
In his first speech after taking control of Britain's research spending, for example, he "made no apology for prioritising research that would contribute to Britain's future prosperity". The occasion was the celebration of the centenary of the Science Museum, and Mandy left his listeners in no doubt that he will continue government policy of allocating more of the £6bn science budget to areas with commercial applications – in other words, areas that the government (and its industrial advisers) think will yield short-term benefits for Britain.
Meanwhile, at the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the geniuses who presided over the disaster of the Research Assessment Exercise – which sets funding to universities based on the perceived "value" of their research – have been adjusting to the Mandel*son line. They are working on a "Research Excellence Framework" which will require applicants for funding to cite "demonstrable benefits to the economy, society, public policy, culture and quality of life". This bodes ill for any scientist or engineer interested in curiosity-driven research.
More... (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/17/lasers-government-funding-peter-mandelson)
I guess a governments war on science isn't exclusive to the Conservative party of Canada. :frown: