Scientists Stage Funerals To Protest Against Cuts — a New Trend?

ananyo writes "Physicists, chemists and mathematicians in the UK are campaigning against their chief public funder (EPSRC) over reforms that they say threaten blue-skies research, kicking off their protest by toting a coffin to the Prime Minister in Downing Street. The reforms are a response to declining budgets and political pressure to focus science on areas that will produce economic benefits for the UK. Last month, over 2000 Canadian scientists marched to Parliament Hill with a coffin to protest against the Harper government's cuts to basic research and scientific facilities, which they believe undermine the quality of scientific evidence in government. With budget cuts to science expected in the U.S., is it time for scientists in U.S. — and perhaps elsewhere — to think about getting their retaliation in first and ready their coffins?"

Comments

Re:Death of evidence

[DesScorp]

This is intentional. They deliberately impoverish the intellectual community so that few will be able to question what government does. If no one has hard data, the government can do what it wants. If hard data is available, the government has to take that into consideration. Behind every anti-intellectual is an authoritarian.

Ah, the conspiracy theory. From the same people that brought you "Israelis flew remote controlled jets into the twin towers. Not a single Jew died there!".

And really? A scare speech on authoritarianism? From the same people that want Chick-Fil-A's closed down because of the owner's religious views? Tell me again about tolerance, Hatta.