The State of Science (Funding Edition)

Urghhh.. its 10.27pm Friday already and I haven't pinned down a topic.. In fact, I nearly forgot that I have to blog and blog and blog.

Here goes nothing...

Now, I'm a scientist by training and will continue to be so long after graduation in another year's time. While I'm still within the confines of the ivory towers, I am attempting an active engagement with the outside world, in order to not be overwhelmed by things to come.

Probably the most difficult things most scientists face it the lack of funding. Usually through grants or research/journal access subsidies, the average scientist can expect limited funding for proper work to be done. And that's excluding the red tape which comes with many institutions and their political structure.

In recent times, there has been an increase in negative policies towards science. As if the public perception of science is not bad enough, governments worldwide have slashed science funding to accommodate economic losses. Most notably in the UK, where chemists took to the pen and sent a letter to PM David Cameron informing him of the repercussions of such a tactless move.

Granted, the area affected is synthetic organic chemistry, being my first love of science and the primary factor which drove me into research. Nevertheless, the potential backlash is huge not just economically but also of human capital. LCDs, pharmaceuticals, polymers are the tip of the iceberg which will melt away if the funding cuts were to be carried out.


Why is Science that much important? Here's the answer, in general terms.

Apart from that, I was extremely disgruntled when I heard that science education in Australia was to be affected by funding cuts as well. Its sad to see that students are gradually learning less of science. Choking off early curiosity and thus depriving future generations of the wonders of science at a young age can only mean bad things for civilisation.

Lucky for me, I was trained since young by parents who taught science in secondary school, and a father who guided my early scientific adventures through coherent explanation which has always left me wanting to know more and find out on my own. Many of my peers do not enjoy such a luxury and I have seen them doing a degree programme as a means to an end rather than being the end in itself. I can try to guide them to the light of reason which is science, but human nature is not something which can be altered at will. It has to start early. When a child is just starting to learn about his/her world, it is when scientific thinking should start to take hold.

Note that I am not saying that everyone should be scientists, but be equipped with scientific reasoning which (I believe) is crucial in navigating life itself. To sceptically acquire knowledge and keeping records of them are the few things which makes us humans unique.

That said, I'm very much hoping that my future MSc and PhD supervisors are nice people.. I very much look forward to working with them! Hopefully my grant, if any, won't run dry midway through it all.. LOL. ;)

Finished 23.38 pm Friday. May the Force be with you!