HW#11: The US Science Budget

I count myself among the strong supporters of exploration, but as I've said on previous occasions, we have to be willing to pay for it. - Bart Gordon, Rep, Tennessee, U.S. Congress

We are at a point in history where a proper attention to space, and especially near space, may be absolutely crucial in bringing the world together. - Margaret Mead
 

50 points total - 30 for your post, 20 for your replies/questions.

As we explore the concepts and processes of science in our class, it may have struck you that good experiments can sometimes be very challenging, requiring extremely precise equipment, long time frames, and significant effort.  To probe the tiniest realms of cells in our bodies, of DNA molecules that carry our genes, of the very atoms in those genes, and of the nuclei in those atoms, requires larger and larger pieces of equipment.  To probe the distant planets with landers and orbiters, to observe farther stars looking for planets like Earth, to search for Black Holes or the beginnings of the universe itself, similarly requires more and more complex spacecraft and telescopes.

Exploring the very small - or the very large - requires significant expense.  How much do we spend today in the US on "science" at the federal level?  Is it a large sum of money compared to other federal agencies?  Is this expense worthwhile?  These are some of the questions to explore yourself this week.

There are many agencies within the US government working on science.  Perhaps best known is NASA - The National Aeronautic and Space Administration. While most often associated with astronauts, Space Shuttle launches, and "pretty pictures from Space" taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA also is charged with many other tasks involving aeronautics, robotic and human exploration of space, and science.  Another federal agency involved with science research is the National Science Foundation, NSF, charged with supporting science research in part through grants to colleges and universities.  Certainly parts of the National Institutes for Health (NIH), Department of Energy (DOE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also spend federal tax monies supporting science.

This week's assignment:

Research and write a typed, spell-checked short essay of 250-500 words on whether science in the US should continue to be funded at its current level, and whether expenditures on astronomical and scientific research and space exploration are really worth our tax dollars.   But before you decide upon your answer...

1) Read at least one short background article on overall federal spending for science, or find an article of your choice about the topic.  Include in your essay something from the article(s) you read.

Paisley, E. (2008, Jan 28) Bush Asks Congress to Double Science Spending. Science Progress.  Center for American Progress. Accessed 10/26/08 from   http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/01/bush-asks-congress-to-double-science-spending/

Ratloff, J. (2008, Oct 11) The Science Vote: Spending Priorites Differ. ScienceNews. Vol. 174 #8.  Accessed 10/26/08 from http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/36940/title/The_Science_Vote_Spending_priorities_differ

2) Look at the overall science budget compared with other Federal Agencies.  This step is required, and if you don't include in your analysis some comparison with other agencies, you won't receive full credit.  Check out The Federal Budget 2004-2009 at Infoplease.com, and the more detailed 2008 budget charts taken from the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which I excerpted.

And consider looking at the Congress' version of the budget, which often differs significantly from that of the executive branch. (cf. "The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2006 to 2015", January 2005, http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=6060&sequence=4, or for more on the impact of cutting pieces of NASA's and NSF's budget: "Budget Options: General Science, Space, and Technology", February 2005, http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=6075&sequence=4). If you need help here, stop by Chabot's Library and ask for assistance at the reference desk. Research skills are of paramount importance today, so take this opportunity to learn a bit about answering topical questions.

3) Research what at least one of the federal agencies involved with science do (NASA, NSF, NIH, DOE, NOAA, and the EPA).  Check out:

•  What Does NASA Do?

• NSF at a glance

• About NOAA

• NIH at a glance  and the NIH's Office of Science Policy.

• Role of Science at the EPA

• US Department of Energy: Science & Technology