I have been asked by many people the reasoning behind funding basic research
while people in the U.S. are homeless or hungry. How do you justify budgeting the NSF
(National Science Foundation) when many people are in need? Is there a continued need
for public funding of basic research?
(By basic research, I mean fundamental particle research at leading-edge
accelerator labs, or theoretical solid-state physics research.
Research that may never end up bolstering the economy, or providing jobs,
but will aid in human understanding of Nature.)
since you wouldn't expect a skateboard manufacturer to distribute their product with skateboards. I don's see why it is unreasonable for M$ to use Unices and the tools available for their enterprise. I think their fault may lie in expecting the world to rely on their product.
"I used Windows, then I needed to get some work done..."
Provided the data analysis is held under close scrutiny, and up to the usual peer-review process, I think this sort of story is exciting. The more science (real, working, no flam artist) is presented to the public as part of their everyday life, the more likely it will be that the general public will be able to make informed decisions on how they want their tax dollars spent. That's a Good Thing(TM).
Slashdot Mirror
I have been asked by many people the reasoning behind funding basic research
while people in the U.S. are homeless or hungry. How do you justify budgeting the NSF
(National Science Foundation) when many people are in need? Is there a continued need
for public funding of basic research?
(By basic research, I mean fundamental particle research at leading-edge
accelerator labs, or theoretical solid-state physics research.
Research that may never end up bolstering the economy, or providing jobs,
but will aid in human understanding of Nature.)
nordman.
"A rolling stone gathers momentum."
since you wouldn't expect a skateboard manufacturer to distribute their product with skateboards. I don's see why it is unreasonable for M$ to use Unices and the tools available for their enterprise. I think their fault may lie in expecting the world to rely on their product. "I used Windows, then I needed to get some work done..."
Provided the data analysis is held under close scrutiny, and up to the usual peer-review process, I think this sort of story is exciting. The more science (real, working, no flam artist) is presented to the public as part of their everyday life, the more likely it will be that the general public will be able to make informed decisions on how they want their tax dollars spent. That's a Good Thing(TM).