In 1869, Irish physicist John Tyndall posed a basic scientific question: Why is the sky blue? In searching for an explanation, Tyndall discovered that light is scattered in the atmosphere by dust and large air molecules in a way that causes the eye to see the colour blue. His discovery of these properties of light eventually led to the later development of a number of important but wholly unanticipated innovations, including lasers and fibre optics.

Today, “blue sky” research is a term used in honour of Tyndall to remind us how important scientific discoveries are most often led by scientists’ questions rather than others’ goals and directives. Basic scientific research often challenges accepted thinking, leading to fundamental paradigm shifts and unexpected innovations of great importance. From the discovery of X-rays and nylon to superconductivity, medical imaging, computers and the GPS, it is clear that true scientific progress is driven by basic research without specific outcomes or applications in mind.

Unfortunately, this important lesson has been lost on the Harper government. Recently, Minister of State for Science and Technology Gary Goodyear made this clear with the alarming announcement that he is turning Canada’s renowned National Research Council into a “concierge” for industry. According to Goodyear, the NRC, established in 1916 to conduct basic research, is to be transformed into a service centre, a “one-stop, 1-800, ‘I have a solution for your business problem.’”

It’s hard to imagine a minister of science anywhere else in the world today who demonstrates such a lack of understanding of science as Goodyear. Of course, there is a role for government to play in supporting applied research, but not at the expense of basic research. The NRC has been at the forefront of fundamental scientific investigations that have produced discoveries and applications in biotechnology, aerospace engineering and alternative energy. By completely reshaping the NRC into the equivalent of a toll-free helpline, his government is putting the brakes on important advances like these and will hinder real innovation in the long run.

Goodyear admits that the NRC was created precisely to undertake basic research. However, he claims that it no longer needs to do so because universities today play that role.

In truth, universities have always conducted basic research and have collaborated closely with the NRC. Many university-based researchers rely upon the NRC for their scientific work. By gutting the basic research program of the NRC, the government will be weakening university research.

Goodyear’s attempts to justify changes in the NRC with reference to university research are particularly unjust given that the federal government has been steadily eroding university research funding in recent years. When adjusted for inflation, the three federal research granting councils that provide the bulk of university research funding have had their base budgets eroded over the past five years. Since 2007-08, funding for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council has declined by more than 10 per cent in real terms. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s funding is down by 1.2 per cent, while core support for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has dropped by 4.1 per cent.

At the same time as providing inadequate support for basic university research, the federal government has forced the granting councils to target new investments in areas chosen politically to serve commercial interests, not by researchers to serve scientific and public interests.

By turning the NRC into a convenience store for businesses and letting political decisions determine research priorities, the Harper government risks stifling rather than stimulating the creativity needed for scientific discovery and real innovation promoting economic and social development. For today’s Tyndalls, asking fundamental questions like why the sky is blue is likely to get little play in the corporate boardrooms or corridors of government power. For that, all Canadians will pay a price unless the government reverses course and steps up its support for basic research.

James Turk is executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers.