A worldwide voice saying "Let the world use money for more science"

ByPhilip Bond

Scientists from Japan and Japan won the Nobel prize from 2014 to 2016,Basic researchDiscussions and reports reconfirmed the importance of the event occurred. It seems that there is the same situation not only in Japan but also in the world as a situation that the budget from the research institution and the country etc. is hard to be attached to the "basic" basic research which does not lead to the result soon, Discussion "Let's use money for fundamental research" is happening.

Let's waste more money on science - The Boston Globe
http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2016/12/11/let-waste-more-money-science/afvbusk8G5T5IcrgldkmJJ/story.html

It is not an exaggeration to say that there is almost no way of thinking about the achievement of science in the science of Albert Einstein, a physicist, also called "father of modern physics", but at the time when relativity theory is still in the research stage, its meaning There were not many people who understood correctly.

In 1913, under Einstein who was living a research life in Switzerland, physicists who later won the Nobel Prize in both namesMax PlanckWhenWalter NernstI visited and persuaded him to return to his home country of Berlin. At that time Einstein was working on the theme "General Relativity Theory", Einstein asked for Planning's content, "If this theory is built, it will replace Newton's law of gravitation It is said that it said. Planck, who had heard the story, was unable to endure and broke into the story of Einstein and said, "As my older friend, I am against it, it would be impossible to realize that, It seems that no one would believe it, "he said.

It goes without saying that Planck's decision was a mistake as a result. The general relativity theory was announced in 1916, and the observation of the total solar eclipse conducted in 1919 three years later confirmed the existence of Einstein's prediction of the "gravity lens effect" predicted. Nonetheless, it can be said that Planck's way of thinking was not mistaken in a certain sense. To establish the theory of general relativity, Einstein took a long period of eight years, and among them it has experienced countless failures as well. Also, Einstein acquired the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, but the reason for its winning is the "discovery of photoelectric effect" which differs from general relativity theory. It was said that the Nobel Prize committee changed the grounds for the award because at that time physics was also skeptical of the theory of relativity and criticism against the Jewish Einstein.

ByThomas Thomas

After that, the theory of relativity became a cornerstone of various physics. It is thought that the theory of relativity made it possible to explain the birth of the universe and that the GPS function of smartphones that everyone is using now was not realized without Einstein's achievement. On the other hand, its significance is widely recognized since 1940, and it is said that it was regarded as being one step away from mainstream for about 20 years until then. In modern times, along with quantum mechanics, the theory of relativity, which is said to be the "two major revolution in the history of physics", was also experiencing an inconvenient era that was not initially opposed. Nevertheless Einstein was able to prepare the environment necessary for research because there were supporters who found significance in Einstein 's theory.

In this way, there are not many cases that many of the theories that are regarded as "common sense" in the present world were not seen by anyone at the beginning. Otherwise, the field of basic research tends to be neglected for evaluation such as "I do not get results right away" or "I do not know exactly what to do", and so the budget required for research There is also a present condition that it is not easy to obtain sufficiently.

However, many of scientific achievements have begun with pure curiosity. Research that is carried out for some purpose is also important, but the basic research to investigate the principle of the phenomenon in the world is, so to speak, "fundamental physical strength of science", so to neglect this Then the reliability of the research that stands on it will be impaired. Yoshinori Ohsumi, professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology honored with the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology of 2016, said that the importance of the scientific spirit of pursuing basic science that does not directly lead to short-term outcomes and the society in which it is hardly allowed In an interview I am telling the grief of.

"Society has a clear visit to fundamental science" Yoshinori Omun of the Nobel Prize repeatedly appealed at the awards reception
http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2016/10/03/osumi-press-conference_n_12309182.html

In the background, there is a continuing reduction of academic research budget by the government.

The "Scientific Research Roundtable Meeting" made at 11 major universities in Japan such as the University of Tokyo, University of Tsukuba, and Waseda University, in July 2016, the reduction of subsidies for administrative expenses and private subsidies of national universities continued for more than 10 years, The shift to an explicit competitive business subsidy is strengthening. " As a result, he is warning a warning saying, "I am overly inclined to study towards strengthening exit orientation for short-term outcomes."

In recent years in the United States, the budget for basic research has continued to be reduced, and voices concerning the influence are taking place in the world of physics. In addition, President Donald Trump will be born in 2017, but Mr. Trump 's remarks so far and Mr. Mike Pence who is appointed vice presidentAnti-physical remarkIt can be said that it is uncertain whether sufficient budget will be put into the field of basic research from such as. It seems that 2017 can be said to be a remarkable year even in the science world.