Science used to be done on the margins of otherwise tangibly useful social activity, mostly education. National defense funding began the transformation of science into a professional activity. Even then, so called undirected science would be done on the margins of the goal oriented development of military technologies. Massive funding of science by governments is a relatively new development, beginning in earnest after WW2. As with other things in life, money changes everything.

It is well past time to become realistic about science by admitting that scientists and scientific institutions respond to economic incentives like everyone else. In fact, science is more easily corrupted than most of other areas of social activity because science lacks the disciplining influence of the markets. Public money is divided by program monitors who are often clueless and relying on self-referential committees of grant recipients. Getting grants makes or breaks careers and is a difference between being a miserable adjunct or a tenured professor with a good pension and benefits.

Economic pressures in science mean that scientific institutions and scientists can be manipulated by those with money: industries, politicians and political pressure groups with money to give away. The winners in science, and thus future leaders of scientific societies, are the winners of the money race which does not necessarily coincide with scientific quality, or personal integrity. Winning is everything.



There may not be easy answers to these problems, as one would not want to throw the proverbial baby with the bathwater. However, mere acknowledgment may be the first step towards a solution. It will also facilitate public understanding of pathologies in science like, for example, the global warming industry. Honesty and transparency is the best disinfectant and may actually increase public confidence in science.