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I have to double check to make sure that I've heard it right. Indeed, this is the main sentence that I picked during your inauguration speech.
But words alone are not enough. The advances that we made in science and technology started in the 60s and 70s when many of us, baby boomers, were encouraged to go this direction, and when the Federal government pumped funds to universities, to purse basic research.
Just a reminder: basic research is one that done for the sake of learning. It does not have a purpose to save humanity, even though sometimes it does. Many of the first findings in cancer research, diabetes and high blood pressure were done in academic research. And when a long term research ended up in a wall, the scientists would pick up and start something new.
In industry, when companies have to show profits every quarter, even though long term research takes years to result in something, when profits are down R&D gets trimmed, or closed altogether.
It was the early 80s, yes, when Reagan brought his anti intellectualism to Washington, that academic funds started to dry up - except for "star wars" - and many bright recent graduates realized that there were no positions and grants in academia and joined the fast growing biotech companies that, at first, got a lot of funding from venture capitals and just as quickly vanished.
The trouble with conducting research in the industry is that a scientist loses the freedom to exchange ideas with colleges, to be challenged, to dare something new without the promise of a "marketable products." Everything is "patentable" so free exchange with colleges at scientific conferences, or even publication, are curtailed.
Not only Republicans clamped down on academic funding. A lowlife congressman, Dingel, decided to make a name for himself by dragging a Nobel Laureate to explain how he conducted research in his laboratory.
Former Democratic Senator Proxmire had a "golden fleece" award because he had no understanding of basic research. Even last year, many attacked Palin for securing funds to conduct wildlife research in Alaska.
Perhaps studying the sex life of the bees may not solve poverty and homelessness, but a free society should have room for basic studies that have no immediate benefits. This is why it is called basic research. And a free society should encourage studies in the arts and the humanity, too.
Mr. President, please renew the mission of the NSF and NIH to provide grants to universities. Let the inquiring minds tackle the questions of science with no strings attached. Someday, these studies will bear fruit.
Pharmaceutical companies can always purchase the rights to further developing an idea for a marketable products, but at least they will not be able to charge a year salary for a dose of a cancer treatment "to cover the long expensive cost of developing it."
Two weeks ago we visited an exhibition in Florence, Italy, commemorating Galileo Galilei. It ended up with a sentence that after his trial, the church decided to keep a tighter grip on what kind of science is being conducted. And, until three months ago, it appeared that we, in this country, have not made much progress since then.
Thank you for your encouraging words, Mr. President. I hope that you will follow on these ideas with a real commitment.
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