Like all other sectors, scientific research can get inbred and peer review corrupted as a mechanism. It's similar to a character/job/performance reference: "We want to hear what other people say about you," can be problematic when the folks talking are untrustworthy--yet they wield credentials imparting trustworthiness. Peer review only worked when the majority of peers were rock-solid good scientists. (when there were fewer scientists, with personal reputations and the discoveries to back up their reputations) Wouldn't it be great if Pierre Curie, Darwin or Tesla were doing peer reviews? (or men/women of similar caliber)
At leading research schools (they aren't all universities), falsification of data exists at the student and professorial level.
Funding is definitely cut at NASA, whereas "sexy" research funding is increasing. We need excellent researchers across all areas of expertise. And we need increased accountability and transparency. And more funding.
I argue that what is most needed is increased scientific literacy at the level of political leadership and the general population so that findings can be accessible/understood/evaluated on a more concrete level by all.
Coming pathogen shifts associated with climate change, and extreme weather events, etc. alarm people. And people want to be able to trust science and to trust science reporting.
Like all other sectors, scientific research can get inbred and peer review corrupted as a mechanism. It's similar to a character/job/performance reference: "We want to hear what other people say about you," can be problematic when the folks talking are untrustworthy--yet they wield credentials imparting trustworthiness. Peer review only worked when the majority of peers were rock-solid good scientists. (when there were fewer scientists, with personal reputations and the discoveries to back up their reputations) Wouldn't it be great if Pierre Curie, Darwin or Tesla were doing peer reviews? (or men/women of similar caliber)
At leading research schools (they aren't all universities), falsification of data exists at the student and professorial level.
Funding is definitely cut at NASA, whereas "sexy" research funding is increasing. We need excellent researchers across all areas of expertise. And we need increased accountability and transparency. And more funding.
I argue that what is most needed is increased scientific literacy at the level of political leadership and the general population so that findings can be accessible/understood/evaluated on a more concrete level by all.
Coming pathogen shifts associated with climate change, and extreme weather events, etc. alarm people. And people want to be able to trust science and to trust science reporting.