YORKTON - Those who see science as some dark cloud are often the ones suggesting scientists are ultimately only loyal to who is paying the bills.
That is in itself a rather inflammatory statement since in the end funding for science research has to come from somewhere, so there is always someone writing the cheques for without funding research cannot happen.
Now one might make the argument the obvious answer is for the public – government logically – needs to invest far greater dollars in research so that the cheques ultimately come from the people. Of course there is often a rather broad divide between what government does and the majority might want – we will be watching that play out in the United States over the coming months.
In the end however research by its nature tends to follow its own path. Scientists go looking for answers to a question – how to grow more bushels of wheat? Or, how to fight cancer cells? – then through experimentation answers either emerge, or they don’t. It is of course not an exact thing. Science by its nature is very much a trial-and-error pathway to discovery.
The larger question than who is paying should be what the goal of the research is, and who, if the research is successful, will benefit.
For example, if the government funds crop research, what should they be hoping the research achieves?
Traditionally crop research has been largely focused on developments which largely favour the farm producer, whether it is adding genetics for higher yields, or fortifying a crop again disease, drought or insects.
Generally that is good for the greater public in the sense it helps ensure food security for the world, but in a country where farmers far out produce production it might not be viewed as best dollars invested by taxpayers. Those taxpayers might be more concerned about environmental sustainability in farming, or the development of some new crop entirely, or the funds going to medical research instead because that tends to hit closer to home for many.
So when public / government dollars are already limited, science research has to cast a broader net for funding.
The best dollars will come unfettered. Those dollars with the fewest strings allow for the freest research.
But, not every dollar will be like that.
There will be a need for science moving forward to balance what they do, with who ultimately gains from their effort – something not always clear.
While it is a maze to navigate it is one society needs to find a reasonable path through because it’s only good research that can create solutions for many of the problems we face.
