For those reflecting on the attack on federal support for science it is worth going back to Vannevar Bush’s original arguments from 75 years ago that created this very system of federal supports. You can get the text from NSF website (for now at least…): PDF
Bush reminds readers that the Allies barely won WWII and only did so by contributions of emigre scientists who came up in Europe’s research network.
For any American who questions the value of govt support to research, ask them how the Allies won WWII. Everyone saw Oppenheimer but ask them if they know of, eg, Abraham Wald or Jerzy Neyman. There are many, many more names one could bring up.
The US system was not able, as it was configured as of WWII, to reproduce such talent. His project was to think of how as a society the US could do so as a strategic imperative, and he determined expanded government support was crucial.
Bush continues by discussing wartime advances in addressing infection and disease stimulated by a concerted government investment. He saw in this a potential for govt to both spark rapid innovation and support the steady work to allow such sparks to grow.
He famously distinguished “basic science” as the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge’s sake, which created the raw materials for applied innovation as a byproduct.
Business incentives and the modest scale of private foundations meant basic research was likely underprovided without govt support.
Moreover, talent was being wasted because too many people lacked opportunity or means to pursue their talents and gain advanced training. Govt support could unlock such talent and to the enormous benefit of society.
He proposed a system of support to applied research out of departmental agencies and then a separate National Science Institute (would become Foundation) to support basic research. Universities would be the core partners because their mission prioritized truth-seeking.
The arguments remain convincing to this day. Re-reading Bush’s words does make one long for the sentiment it conveys of broad based cooperation for building a safer and healthier society.
