Dear all,

In case anyone's interested, there's an online petition for the promotion of funding for scientific research (link below).
As far as I can tell this is a backlash against grant application processes and the bias against funding research where the outcomes are not predetermined.  More details below...
Best wishes,

Emily

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/honest-discovery/

'We request the reversal of a policy now being applied by the UK Research Councils. This policy directs funds to projects whose outcomes are specified in advance.

Science has never worked in this way, and never could. The real world is blind to our hopes, fears, and aspirations. Scientific research seeks to describe this world, replacing ignorance and error with knowledge and understanding. Where a specific outcome can be predicted with confidence, then there is no research.

Practical and economic benefits arise from scientific discoveries. Science has economic impact precisely because curiosity-driven research reveals patterns and features of the natural world that we did not know, and did not expect.

The UK taxpayer should not support investigations with foregone conclusions, however beguiling. UK research must not be guided by wishful thinking, nor relegated to producing footnotes for ground-breaking discoveries made elsewhere.

We call upon the Research Councils to return to their mission of advancing the frontiers of human understanding. Public support for science must renew its investment in discovery if it is to create prosperity and well-being.'
(By John Allen, the petition author)

Emily Forster
Palaeoecology of historical human impact on the vegetation and landscape of the Lake District, North-West England

University of Southampton School of Geography
Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
Tel: 02380592218
________________________________________
From: [log in to unmask] [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Barber K.E. [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 17 June 2009 11:10
To: All Staff and Postgraduates
Subject: gg-postgrads [gg-all] FW: E-Petition to the Prime Minister at his Office's official site

Dear All

John also requested that I forward this.

Cheers
Keith

-----Original Message-----
From: John F. Allen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 02 June 2009 20:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: E-Petition to the Prime Minister at his Office's official site

Dear Colleagues,

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/honest-discovery/

Please take a moment to consider the e-petition at the above link.

UK citizens and UK residents are eligible to sign.

If you agree with the petition, please sign, and please pass on the
news to whomever may wish to know, for any reason. The petition opens
today, 2 June, and is open until 3 October.

By all means edit this message, forward it, or write a new one.

With thanks and best wishes,

John


John F. Allen
Professor of Biochemistry
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road
London E1 4NS
U.K.

Telephone (direct) +44 (0)20 7882 3350
Telephone (research office) +44 (0)20 7882 7010
Telefax (direct) +44 (0)20 7882 7009

[log in to unmask]
PGP Key 46768E69

http://jfallen.org
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/honest-discovery/