Comments on: The Science Policy Insiders http://blogs-r.us/bioblog/2008/11/18/the-science-policy-insiders/ Biology is everything Mon, 21 May 2012 01:18:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: gillt http://blogs-r.us/bioblog/2008/11/18/the-science-policy-insiders/#comment-128 gillt Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:14:43 +0000 http://blogs-r.us/bioblog/?p=125#comment-128 They sold their fellowships as an opportunity at a power trip, and like you said, not much of a lobby for basic research. To sidle up to the levers of power as a scientist, you'll need your Nobel in hand. Witness as Obama is at this moment collecting an entire set. Compare this to the Ashcrofts, Roves, Delays and Palins. Culture needs an overhaul. They sold their fellowships as an opportunity at a power trip, and like you said, not much of a lobby for basic research.

To sidle up to the levers of power as a scientist, you’ll need your Nobel in hand. Witness as Obama is at this moment collecting an entire set. Compare this to the Ashcrofts, Roves, Delays and Palins. Culture needs an overhaul.

]]> By: The Arborist http://blogs-r.us/bioblog/2008/11/18/the-science-policy-insiders/#comment-126 The Arborist Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:44:33 +0000 http://blogs-r.us/bioblog/?p=125#comment-126 That's a pretty stinging condemnation. Maybe they're excited to be near the levers of power because they have struggled for so long just to get to see them, and they have no hope of reaching them. I didn't see the presentation, but is it possible that their cynicism is a result of disillusion? Are these people really the ones that have any power? Maybe AAAS and NAS have more power than I realize, but it seems to me that they've been pretty effectively ignored lately, and I'm not sure that's entirely their fault. For example I seem to remember a particularly stinging NAS report about NIH. They called for a significant reorganization of the NIH structure including the elimination of several institutes (including NHGRI). You would think the structure of scientific funding and bureaucracy would be the area which NAS would have the most authority. It seems to me that they were mostly ignored. I think there was some stuff about an emphasis on translational medicine that Zerhouni seems to have taken to heart, but I don't think the changes have been that significant. The thing is, they're all we've got, well them and a few others. There can't be much of a science lobby, like you said there's not much money in it other than tech and pharma. They're most interested in training enough of an excess of young researchers that they can pick and choose the best and pay them peanuts. Reporters and the press are the other possible source of pressure, but they haven't been that strong lately either. That’s a pretty stinging condemnation. Maybe they’re excited to be near the levers of power because they have struggled for so long just to get to see them, and they have no hope of reaching them. I didn’t see the presentation, but is it possible that their cynicism is a result of disillusion? Are these people really the ones that have any power? Maybe AAAS and NAS have more power than I realize, but it seems to me that they’ve been pretty effectively ignored lately, and I’m not sure that’s entirely their fault.

For example I seem to remember a particularly stinging NAS report about NIH. They called for a significant reorganization of the NIH structure including the elimination of several institutes (including NHGRI). You would think the structure of scientific funding and bureaucracy would be the area which NAS would have the most authority. It seems to me that they were mostly ignored. I think there was some stuff about an emphasis on translational medicine that Zerhouni seems to have taken to heart, but I don’t think the changes have been that significant.

The thing is, they’re all we’ve got, well them and a few others. There can’t be much of a science lobby, like you said there’s not much money in it other than tech and pharma. They’re most interested in training enough of an excess of young researchers that they can pick and choose the best and pay them peanuts. Reporters and the press are the other possible source of pressure, but they haven’t been that strong lately either.

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