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Author Topic:   Why science is losing funding
tesla
Member (Idle past 1593 days)
Posts: 1199
Joined: 12-22-2007


Message 1 of 17 (679126)
11-12-2012 11:11 AM


I stumbled across a video on BBC in which a woman exploring the math of theoretical physics offered that space funding is being lost and that the interest of the common people has waned concerning astrophysics and its majesty of wonder.
I would like to point out that a lot of scientists treat average nonscientists as less than valuable to their work. That creates an alienation of the common man, in which science is offering answers no one can understand without years of college, and are unwilling or unable to show where it is interesting and fun, but instead stress the amount of work needed to come to any understanding.
What do you believe are the main reasons for the lack of NASA funding? Do you think arrogant scientists have played any role in diminished funding, or the lack of interest of the common people?
Janna Levin: Black holes and the universe's secrets - BBC News

keep your mind from this way of enquiry, for never will you show that not-being is
~parmenides

Replies to this message:
 Message 4 by NoNukes, posted 11-12-2012 9:14 PM tesla has replied
 Message 5 by Genomicus, posted 11-12-2012 11:08 PM tesla has replied
 Message 13 by Taq, posted 11-13-2012 11:11 AM tesla has replied

  
tesla
Member (Idle past 1593 days)
Posts: 1199
Joined: 12-22-2007


Message 8 of 17 (679229)
11-13-2012 12:18 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by hooah212002
11-12-2012 5:36 PM


And then become angered with journalists who report it wrong. This is something I've been thinking a bit about recently as well. However, I don't see it as being due to "elitist scientists" as much as the general public not really giving a shit about science. Science is boring to most Americans. Hell, half the country will tell you that science is bullshit and "the devil".
It's not boring to me. I wonder why such a shift though. When I was growing up science was fun and exciting. But recently, not so much. I think the battle of science and religion has damaged many peoples trust in the science community that appears to be on an agenda to destroy people’s religion.
But what other reasons could have caused the lack of interest?

keep your mind from this way of enquiry, for never will you show that not-being is
~parmenides

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by hooah212002, posted 11-12-2012 5:36 PM hooah212002 has not replied

  
tesla
Member (Idle past 1593 days)
Posts: 1199
Joined: 12-22-2007


Message 9 of 17 (679234)
11-13-2012 12:35 AM
Reply to: Message 4 by NoNukes
11-12-2012 9:14 PM


Because you have used the word arrogant, it seems that you have concluded that at least some science are failing to recognize possible valuable contributions from non-scientists.
I don't think that's really the issue...it's not the ability of the ignorant to contribute, but rather that their curiosity be allowed to flourish. which could lead to greater contribution.
As an example, let’s examine my feelings toward math. If I understand it, and can properly perform it, I find it cool, and even fun. But when I lack the understanding, and a 30 minute equation turns into 2 hours, it's frustrating and exhausting. It's difficult to find proper tutors or capable students to study with. That is part of the reason why I've returned here.
I think curiosity is a powerful driving force, and when given enough prodding to flourish it can lead to great discovery, and great scientists, and great interest. What will it take though, a change in public approach, a change in the educational system, or a shift in society’s mainstream media, orwhat?

keep your mind from this way of enquiry, for never will you show that not-being is
~parmenides

This message is a reply to:
 Message 4 by NoNukes, posted 11-12-2012 9:14 PM NoNukes has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by NoNukes, posted 11-13-2012 11:45 AM tesla has replied

  
tesla
Member (Idle past 1593 days)
Posts: 1199
Joined: 12-22-2007


Message 10 of 17 (679235)
11-13-2012 12:41 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by Genomicus
11-12-2012 11:08 PM


The main reason for lack of NASA funding is that the government has other priorities - the military, you know, and other items. According to this, about 50% of non-necessary spending is used up on "defense." I'm pretty sure that can be cut down substantially and sent over to NASA. I'm currently frustrated that we haven't landed a man/woman on Mars yet, when we should have done it a decade after the moon landing.
Hmm. I wonder if that is because of public desires of government spending, or government desires not in line with the American people. I know many that wish the defense budget would be slashed in half. But the great fear there is the economic impact on society.
Maybe that’s why the private sector is building to address public access to space. It’s one way to gain public support is to include them in participation of the gains of science. Like being in space and experiencing zero g.

keep your mind from this way of enquiry, for never will you show that not-being is
~parmenides

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by Genomicus, posted 11-12-2012 11:08 PM Genomicus has not replied

  
tesla
Member (Idle past 1593 days)
Posts: 1199
Joined: 12-22-2007


Message 16 of 17 (679398)
11-13-2012 6:41 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Taq
11-13-2012 11:11 AM


Resource management
What happened? Politicians do what politicians do and made it look like wasted money. Conservatives ridiculed the scientists and did everything they could to trash the program, and it worked.
The question is why does this work? Why are conservatives able to consistently attack science and win?
Science did not lose. The Americans are still able to conduct research through collaboration with the E.U. It was probably a good call to relieve such a high financial burden and energy consumption to another country.
I still worry about the effects of magnetism across the developed world from the flow of electricity on the surface. I wonder how it will affect the inner earths movements, and our relation to other bodies.

keep your mind from this way of enquiry, for never will you show that not-being is
~parmenides

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Taq, posted 11-13-2012 11:11 AM Taq has not replied

  
tesla
Member (Idle past 1593 days)
Posts: 1199
Joined: 12-22-2007


Message 17 of 17 (679399)
11-13-2012 6:46 PM
Reply to: Message 15 by NoNukes
11-13-2012 11:45 AM


I'm not sure...
So would arrogance be measured by whether a scientist would or would not take the time to explain the math? I'm curious as to what you would like to change.
Measuring arrogance would take some research on how to go about it. One method would be to have ignorant people ask scientists questions and then ask why or why not they were not satisfied with the answer. A strong enough sample would at the very least give some direction to that end.
But the question proposed involves assuming funding has declkined for lack of interest, and the reason for a lack of interest is different for some than others.
That was why I started the debate. I know that many religions have found science to be an enemy of their 'faith' but that alone should not account for the lack of interest... But most probably its lack of access into the science world without massive resources for the individual, either the spending of debt for schooling, or what have you.
I'm sure there are a lot of reasons for the decline, but I'm not sure of what to examine first, or how to compile a list of reasons without other peoples input.
Edited by tesla, : forgot to add the answer to the question quoted.
Edited by tesla, : bad sentence.

keep your mind from this way of enquiry, for never will you show that not-being is
~parmenides

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by NoNukes, posted 11-13-2012 11:45 AM NoNukes has not replied

  
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