Re: Education

[Jim Green <JMGreen@SISNA.COM>]

> Does this philosophy also apply to NSF funding for basic science research?

NSF grants are peer reviewed -- which puts them in a different class --
this does not mean that there is no bureaucratic snafus.

When I was at the IBM Research Center (in another time) it was clear that I
knew far more about my research and its value than my bosses -- usually
they listened, but sometimes not -- especially when I told them that the
line of inquery was worthless -- but they signed the paycheck. <g>

A classic example was when Corporate sent a memo to everyone offering a
huge prize for new inovative things to do.  BUT don't bother suggesting
things like a desktop computer.  (The Apple II had just been released and
at IBM was thought of in derision.) <g>)


> How about "Federally funded or controlled" laboratories? Do you believe
> that industry and comercial interests are best suited to know what is
> worthy of research investment?  Is this type of federal expenditure OK?

I don't know about the Laboratories -- There appears to be mixed reviews --
But no one else has the power to take our money and spend it on the likes
of the Hubble Telescope --a project of great interest for astronomers and
cosmologists but of absolutely no value to the people who provided the
money.  I wish I had my money back.  Let the feds solicit donations.  OR to
spend the money on nuclear weapon research.  This was good -- sort of.


Jim Green
mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen