3/3/2013: Some recent links on Science funding in Ireland

Recent changes to the Irish State funding for scientific research and the hatchet job of 'restructuring' the policy formation mechanisms for science funding and development have been in the newsflow for some time.

Here are a couple of very good links relating to the matter:

• One superb post: The Link between Research and Education http://wp.me/p2ycg5-5r | Exposes fundamental flaws in the new Irish Science funding model
• An article on stem cell research in medicine exposes more failings at the policy level, contrasting with the progress in the actual field: http://medicalindependent.ie/22847/the_stem_cell_revolution
• Very strong article on fiscal side of the equation of funding science: http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1025627.shtml
• And one quite 'would funny if it weren't tragic' interview with our 'Hands-on-Scientists' Minister attempting to explain that scientists are wrong on just how right he himself is: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/sherlock-denies-science-role-clash-223295.html
• Quick blogpost showing that our 'Hands-on-Scientists' Minister is just a bit off target when it comes to his own Government policy formation structures: http://sciencecalling.com/2013/02/19/foi-reveals-new-information-about-csa-role/#more-5268
• And a strongly-worded challenge to the Minister's deep thoughts: http://loveirishscience.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/an-embarrassing-rant-by-the-minister-for-research-and-innovation/
• The original interview in which the Minister is labeling scientists 'children' and 'liars' - which has since been removed, but is worth visiting if only to witness the degree of State interference with the media: http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/02/18/liars-and-children/ and here it is with the bits of quotes: http://sciencecalling.com/2013/02/18/policy-speak/

Of course, in fairness to the Irish Government, Europe-wide 'Smart Economy' and 'R&D-intensive growth' leaders are also slashing funding for research http://www.nature.com/news/europe-s-leaders-slash-proposed-research-budget-1.12403 . Maybe burning books will be our next pass-time, offering the economically uplifting marshmallows over a flaming Group Homology tome, anyone?

10/9/2012: Ireland's flop in securing European Science Funding

Departing from the IMF, European Research Council has released the list of 2012 winning projects that obtained financial support from the Council under the ERC Starting Grant results, totaling €800 million. The link to the list is here.

Now, a quick run through the headline results:

• Ireland scored 4 projects (2 each for TCD and UCD)
• Portugal (not a country we in Ireland usually associate with being the Land of Scholars) scored same as Ireland
• Israel scored 24 projects
• Austria 9 projects
• Belgium 19 projects
• Switzerland 33 projects
• Netherlands scored 51 project
• Finland 8 projects
• Denmark 13 projects
• Sweden 22 projects
• And to add insult to our injury: University of Bristol (UK) and University of Edinburgh scored 5 projects each (more than the entire country of Ireland), while University of Warwick 4 projects (same as Ireland as a whole)
• University College London scored 16 projects
• In some consolation, powerhouse of knowledge, Northern Ireland, scored none

Here's a handy chart from ERC:

But wait, it gets worse. When broken down by nationality of grantees, Ireland has 7 Irish nationals granted research proposals:

Which includes more Irish national academics working ABROAD than in Ireland:

And, among the researchers who got grants in Ireland, there are a number of non-nationals:

You can check the above in here.

So that strategy on funding and managing research in Ireland - it is clearly working marvels... oh, and do you now think Irish Universities poor rankings have nothing to do with real world outcomes?..

13/7/2012: CERN and Other 'Alternatives'

There is an interesting debate going on right now in Ireland about our membership in CERN project.

The debate is exemplified by some claiming that Ireland funds 'other' programmes of similar expenditure magnitude and therefore, we can fund CERN membership as well. Here is one example, just for illustrative purposes (not to pick on the specifics, but to illustrate):

This type of an argument is doubtful at lest on 3 fronts: 

1. It assumes that €20mln on methadone support (other programme) yields lower value 4 money than CERN membership. Which is unproven. I am yet to see a feasibility study for:
• CERN membership 
• Methadone support withdrawal
• Comparative between two actions
2. It assumes that CERN membership will return 'jobs & science' for Ireland. Which is unproven & not supported by any assessment, as far as I know. I place tremendous value on science, especially on primary science. Primary science is supported by CERN with some promises (note - promises) of applications. However, Ireland has many other, and arguably potentially more pressing needs for financing in science. Perhaps, to support physics and other primary fields relating to CERN, an alternative to CERN membership can be developed via collaborative research or 'partial' (per-project) membership? If we have brilliant ideas to be tested at CERN, surely German or French or UK etc researchers would love to co-author with our physicists on these? If no, something is deeply amiss in the field.
3. It assumes that we have a choice between supporting methadone dispensing (other spending lines) and supporting CERN. This is only true if the two spending alternatives presented are comparable ones in terms of social and public safety goods and economic returns. I doubt there is any evidence to support this either.

In short, yes, there is plenty of spending waste in Government programmes, including in sciences and public health. No, this does not mean we should simply swap one programme for another because they 'spend similar' amounts. But, yes, we need serious assessments of potential membership in CERN.