R&D Magazine Blogs

newsvine diigo google
slashdot
Share

Rdmag.com - Blogs

Billions of zeros

 Permanent link
Paul Livingstone: Senior Editor - R&D Magazine
Billions of zeros
Feb. 6, 2009

In an economy as desperate for recovery as ours, it’s inevitable some workers will be left out in the cold. It’s just too bad that many of these might be the most educated and knowledgeable of our work force.

The 2009 Senate American Reinvestment and Recovery Act aims to get the engine started again. The U.S. economy has been productive, but capital is short. Workers are taking it on the chin, and soon, America’s R&D infrastructure will absorb some punches.

An effort by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to lower the price tag for President Obama’s stimulus package involves removing nearly $80 billion from the more than $900 billion that’s been amassed thus far.

Unfortunately, this excision involves major federal research agencies, including the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE). Some are seeing their stimulus money completely zeroed out as part of this trimming effort. If approved, the Collins and Nelson cuts would eliminate:

* 100% of the National Science Foundation’s $1.4 billion budget allocation;

* 100% of the U.S. Drug Administration $300 million effort to modernize;

* More than a third of the budget increases for both NOAA and NIST;

* 100% of the Alternative Vehicle Technology Procurement ($100 million);

* $1 billion of DOE’s Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy $2.65 billion budget increase;

* Nearly 50% of the EISA energy technology loan guarantee program’s $9 billion stimulus;

* 50% of NASA Exploration’s $1.5 billion budget

But a variety of other suggested cuts seem downright bizarre, such as a 100% slashing of the Dept. of Energy’s Office of Science increase, and the wholesale removal of the National Science Foundation’s stimulus money. Of course, NSF staffers haven’t done themselves any favors by becoming a target of Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) over damning allegations from an investigation that revealed extensive porn surfing by top NSF staffers. These revelations cost them dearly, but vengeance is bad policy. Similarly, the Smithsonian was embroiled in a financial scandal in recent years, instigated by a single individual. Was it egregious enough to warrant removal 100% of an increase in the institution’s facilities capital?

Cutting the stimulus for NASA also seems wrong. This is likely part of the dismantling of former President Bush’s Vision for Space Exploration. Fine, but this is exactly the sort of R&D that stimulates creative solutions for the good of everyone, from the GigaPan photo of the presidential inauguration to the analysis of water on Mars. Besides, the agency has already eaten significant cuts in recent years.

Others cuts seem equally myopic, such as a $122 million cut in funds to buy or refurbish polar icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard. Doesn’t an increasingly ice-free Arctic demand greater U.S. presence? In among a nearly $5.2 billion (or about 90%) increase in Prevention and Wellness funding were billions for HIV/AIDS testing, diabetes screening, and pandemic flu prevention. All indications are that none of these problems will fade without funding, and it could be argued they will only intensify.

Are there any cuts that make sense? Well, yes, many of the IT upgrade programs don’t seem unreasonable to delay. But I find it hard to believe that non-science funding will make up the difference, especially when they include items like multi-million resort upgrades and silly tax breaks. Do we really need give people tax breaks to go out buy a car they don’t need? The auto industry has been overselling for years. When people absolutely need a car, they’ll go out and buy one. It’s time to put away the childish things, right?

Nelson’s and Collins’ bipartisan brainstorm is clearly an effort to simply get the stimulus passed. Whether or not these cuts make sense probably matters little now that Congress is in an 11th hour situation with the entire nation watching. Theirs is a political gamble that may pay off dividends for both down the road, but what about scientists and U.S. R&D? The scramble will simply run roughshod over research money designed to keep America from ever falling into decay.



blog comments powered by Disqus
Register or log in to comment on this blog!

New To Market

more

JEOL to launch world's smallest solid-state NMR probe
JEOL to launch world's smallest solid-state NMR probe

According to JEOL Resonance, a new benchmark for resolution and benchmark will be set with its introduction next week of a new 0.75-mm solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe. The probe is capable of high resolution sample analysis by spinning the sample at 110 kHz, the world's fastest spinning speed for NMR.

Energy Harvesting Subsystems for Wireless Sensors

Nextreme Thermal Solutions has developed two new energy harvesting subsystems for the plumbing and HVAC industries. The subsystems are the latest additions to Nextreme's Thermobility energy harvesting platform that uses thin-film thermoelectric technology to convert available thermal energy into electric power for a variety of autonomous self-powered applications.

Tools & Technology

more

Benchtop LC-MS System
Benchtop LC-MS System

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has introduced the Exactive Plus system, a benchtop liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system for high-throughput screening, identification, and quantification of compounds in complex matrices.

Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments introduces the LCMS-8040, a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, which combines ion optics and collision cell technology with ultrafast technologies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Top Stories and Headlines
EVERY DAY!

FREE Email Newsletter