Balance is a Red-Hot Word

Some interesting science policy quotes courtesy of the American Institute of Physics.

Where have the Americans gone? - DOE Office of Science Director Ray Orbach discussing declining number of American university students studying physical sciences.

The decline in funding for the physical sciences has put our Nation's capabilities for scientific innovation at risk. - Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) at NSF budget hearing

The concern expressed for the physical sciences in the budget reminds me a little bit of the old joke about the will that said, 'To Joe, who I said I would mention in my will, "Hello Joe.'" Sympathy won't fund labs. - House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) when discussing FY 2004 budget request

I would like to caution you about the use of the word "balance." - OSTP Assistant Director for Physical Sciences and Engineering Patrick Looney at a DOE advisory committee meeting, regarding federal research funding allocations. Looney later called it a "red-hot word" that was "divisive."

More quotes and a roundup of 2003 science policy and budget developments. In the end it looks like a 5% increase for NSF for FY2004 (which started in November). Not bad given the rest of the budget but far less than needed to properly fund American scientific research.