Monday, March 11, 2013
Why the exception?
Pretty good generalization: When research gets significant amounts of federal money, the research gets locked into an unproductive loop.
Worst case is climate "science", where the fed priorities are intentionally genocidal. But even in medical areas where the feds have good intentions, the phase-lock prevents innovation. Cancer researchers pursue grants based on old ideas, and each slight increment of progress on the old ideas generates new grants for more tiny increments. Fresh ideas like dichloroacetate, no matter how promising or tested or proven, simply can't break into the loop.
BUT! Agricultural research is a major exception to the phase-lock rule. Ag research has received federal funding longer than any other branch of science, yet it never goes whoring after wild nonsense, never wastes time on obsolete dead ends. It has always tried to solve the problems of real farmers, and has often succeeded magnificently.
Why the exception? Are ag scientists smarter and saner than other scientists? Probably not. More likely it's the County Extension Offices providing constant and direct feedback. Ag researchers always have a strong link to their true customers, which is absent in the disciplines that run wild. 
Labels: the broken circle
¶ 4:37 AM
