Richard David Yannopoulos-Ruquist,

You wrote:

> My experience indicates that science can
> suppress freedom of thought just as readily as
> religion. We really do need checks and
> balances. And if one side or the other gets
> complete control, the consequences are dire.

This may be good advice. I have to think about it some more. I've claimed that a science-controlled society would be superior to a religion-controlled one or the mixed one we have today. Maybe I am wrong.

Your work experiences may not be unique. I can imagine research groups winning grants to do certain projects, realize they can't be done, but avoid returning the unused money to try to win a new grant. It's the politics of grants and remaining in business. It's an unfortunate part of science research in our culture that should be fixed.

Alexander's description of Russian science should be an example to research grant institutions in the U.S.

• Re: Bad Grant Policies in the US - yanniru - February 23, 2001 - 20:48 UTC