Who Pays For Science?
For years this column has presented interesting information, facts and figures about the mysteries of the universe and many intriguing aspects of our environment. Much of this, if not most, was unraveled by men and women dedicated to scientific research in Alaska and elsewhere in the country.
Who pays for their work? Of course, it is the taxpayer who carries the Lion's share! Indeed, several billions of dollars of public monies are invested each year in scientific research in our country.
Very often I am asked by fellow citizens: "What is in it for me? What benefits do I get from your research work?" Practically everything that touches us in modern society, every gadget, however simple, every act of transportation or communication, even the kind of food we eat or the production of art we enjoy, can be traced to an innumerable array of scientific discoveries or to technological innovations based on scientific research. In fact, today's entire society is shaped by scientific knowledge created in the past--years, decades, even centuries ago. So what is in today's research for you? Perhaps not much now, besides satisfaction of intellectual curiosity. But you can bet that your and your children's future will depend on it.
An incredible experiment was performed with an entire country--the most populous country in the world. During the so-called "Cultural Revolution" in China, university scientists were sent to the fields and factories to do more immediately relevant work. At first, not many deleterious effects were noted. Only years later, and quite suddenly, that country came to the brink of academic and technological bankruptcy: a whole generation of scientists was missing! It will take China decades and massive infusion of western know-how to recover, not to speak of the cost.
Support of science, even science that is difficult to explain to the public or that is not immediately relevant, is a proven, cost effective investment in the future. History makes that abundantly clear.
Most research at U.S. universities is funded through a process of competitive bidding. Investigators wishing to conduct research on a given topic submit unsolicited proposals to appropriate agencies such as the National Science Foundation or, in Alaska, to the Alaska Council on Science and Technology. Or they may respond to an "announcement of opportunity" by mission agencies such as NASA or an Alaskan state agency. In most agencies, proposals are reviewed by a group of peers, who remain anonymous to the investigator, and who judge the scientific value of the proposal, the reputation of the investigator and his/her institution, and the soundness of the budget. If the proposal is accepted, the investigator usually receives funds that pay for his/her time devoted to the project (thus releasing salary funds that the university can use for other purposes), graduate student stipends (one of the greatest benefits of sponsored research to a university), scientific equipment (which then usually remains at the university), attendance at conferences (another bonus to universities perennially short of travel funds), other personnel involved in the project, and overhead to the university for costs of administration, library, utilities, etc.
Very few countries have such an elaborate, fair and accountable system of research funding. In fact, our research institutes operate like non-profit private enterprises. Even individual investigators should be considered entrepreneurs, expected to excel not only in science but also in the art of grantsmanship, who must compete with scientists from other institutions and often with those of their own. Not all scholars agree with our system of research funding, but I firmly believe that it embodies the very essence of free enterprise spirit of our country and that this is precisely the reason why our country has produced the best science and the best universities in the world.
