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Japan Plans To Merge Major Science Bodies

ananyo writes "In its battle against a sluggish economy, Japan's government is gearing up to make cost savings through a root-and-branch reform of the country's science system, merging some of its most prominent research organizations. Plans approved by the government's cabinet would consolidate the RIKEN network of basic-research laboratories with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) — the national funding body. But with few details about the timing, potential cost savings or full implications of the change, many researchers are concerned that it could be a recipe for harsh funding cuts and even greater bureaucracy."

3 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Merging bodies? by Dan+East · · Score: 4, Funny

    Merging science bodies. Sounds kinky.

    --
    Better known as 318230.
  2. Yes. by SeaFox · · Score: 4, Funny

    Japan should merge the Nuclear Science department with the Zoology group.

    What could possibly go wrong?

  3. Re:They should definitely abolish their 'economics by Microlith · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ladies and gents, roman_mir has solved Japan's economic problems in a single Slashdot post!