UK science funding stands out for cuts

A long-standing belief by many US scientists is that eliminating the human spaceflight program would free up lots of money for both space and the general sciences. However, as I've pointed out before, the empirical evidence from the UK doesn't back this up since an aggressively anti-HSF policy in place there for decades has not led to generous funding of the sciences. E.g. in a budget crisis, science is one of the first places the government looks to cut:
/-- UK science faces funding cutbacks - BBC
/-- Cuts mark 'sad day for British science': Researchers criticise government U-turn as major projects are closed down and studentships slashed - Guardian

A UK panel a few years ago in fact found that a HSF program would raise the profile of science and exploration with the public and actually bring more funding to the sciences.

Posted 12/17/09 | 02:35:05 by TopSpacer | Filed under: Space policy

Comments

Politicians are so stupid!
The west is producing less and less and quickly the ONLY thing we do have that is of any worth is know how.
Without science we will loose our edge in this important good as well. Then our economy will collapse and the chinese will finally take over the world (completely) without the need to fire a single bullet. It is out fault then, we have handed it to them freely.
Awesome job politicians!

Posted by Elmar_M at 12/17/09 05:38:08

good point and good post by TopSpacer

Posted by donnie at 12/17/09 09:37:32

It’s called transitional progressivism....and its driven by George Soros, accerlated, encouraged and infused by poor economic polices, irresponsible, and greedy politicians on both the right and left. Might as well get use to it and adapt because we're in for at least 3 more years of it. By then short of the election of a financial free market messiah the damage to our nation’s finances maybe irreversible. The resultant “bee-hive” social nanny thug state won’t last long as it’s built on a weak and crumbling financial foundation. So enjoy science, and individualism while you can as once the debt bubble burst western civilization will return to the dark ages. Plan and invest accordingly as your living on borrowed time! If China plays it cards right it stands to inherit much of our past glory. However I suspect the western world may resemble some of the former eastern block nations where small pockets of free market based small businesses emerge based on the technology of the past selling there cheap specialized services to the Chinese…private space?

Posted by Doug at 12/17/09 13:07:42

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