Lec 19 - Science and Policy Ctd + MONEY!

Question 1

Why should the development of science hinge on the amount of money it receives?

Answer 1

Scientists and researchers have to make a living
 Need to have salary that is at least liveable
 Scholarships and awards to help incentivise people to come and
stay in field
 To attract more brilliant minds (otherwise they’d go into something
more lucrative)

Question 2

It costs money to buy equipment and supplies?

Answer 2

Hire underlings
Equipment and facilities need to be maintained
onsumables (e.g. chemicals, disposable glassware, etc.)

Question 3

How does the Canadian government fund researchers?

Answer 3

Federal government funding part of federal budget and divided among granting agencies: NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, CFI

Question 4

NSERC

Answer 4

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council
- People/research talent
- Discovery/advancement of knowledge
- Innovation/research partnership

Question 5

Why is basic/fundamental research significant?

Answer 5

Fundamental research is the building block for future innovations

Question 6

How can a drop in funding to basic research affect the science community?

Answer 6

At the university level, many faculty researchers focus on basic or fundamental level
Decreased basic research now will result in decreased innovation in the future

Question 7

Recommendations to combat this

Answer 7

Increase base increase in funding from $3.5 to $4.8 billion over four years
Priority on investigator-led research operating grants
Improve collaborative , interdisciplinary funding mechanisms

Question 8

What is Ideal?

Answer 8

a balanced prioritization between applied
and fundamental research must be found

Question 9

When science and politics become intertwined

Answer 9

Certain areas of research become identified with political groups
E.g. North American conservatives with oil and gas, liberals with climate
change
often leads to cognitive biases when the public are faced with scientific information

Question 10

Muzzling of Scientists

Answer 10

Governments can also vet statements given out by scientists, Do it to prevent information that may run counter to a
particular government stance or position

Occurs when scientific institutes and scientists are not sufficiently independent from the government