Nature October 4, 2022
According to the author who oversaw basic research programs across the US Department of Defense, and other organizations, too many countries have built a research pipeline that venerates prizes and papers above all else. People and their problems get left out as scientists chase novelty and the prestige it brings. Too often the more applied a proposal is, the less likely it is to be funded. Even research funds intended for applied work reward novelty over utility. Long-term support for science might depend on scientists helping to solve local problems, such as the regional flooding, fires and droughts caused by climate change. People feel as if they’re being lied to if academia leaves work on these issues to local and county governments, or even simply insurance companies and farmers. According to the author metrics must expand to recognize making real-world change ,every research-funding proposal that touts broader impacts should include key performance indicators for measuring that, impact statements on federally funded grants should be searchable so that the communities trying to solve problems can find relevant work. Researchers, institutions, and funders must work this out. This is about science for people, not science for scientists… read more.