In what I can only assume is an attempt by the people that believe god created man in 6 days, and that polar bears will learn to fly once the ice melts, the Bush administration has failed once again to maintain strong funding for science in this country.

Federal funding of academic science and engineering research and development (R&D) failed to outpace inflation for the second year in a row, according to recently released fiscal year (FY) 2007 data from the National Science Foundation (NSF). If we can’t even provide funding that will outpace inflation how do we expect to stay competative in a global economy? I am sorry but a bunch of poorly educated right wing morons that can’t even figure out the theory of evolution (either because they are too stupid, or too blinded by their religion) are not going to keep America at the top of the technology list. This administration has done more than slash funding, they are in an all out war against science.

The data from NSF’s Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges showed an increase in federally funded expenditures of 1.1 percent in current dollars to $30.4 billion, but after adjusting for inflation, the number signified a 1.6 percent decline from FY 2006 R&D expenditures. This decline follows a 0.2 percent decline between FY 2005 and FY 2006. A two-year decline in federal funding in constant dollars is unprecedented for this 35 year data series.

Traditionally, the federal government has been the largest source of academic R&D funding, accounting for more than 60 percent of total R&D expenditures in most years. Although this is still the case, the share recently decreased, from 64 percent in FY 2005 to 62 percent in FY 2007. Before you get all free market on me, remember that government funding for science research has lead to the development of the internet, GPS and satellite technology, medical advances, engineering advances, and pretty much everything you enjoy in your life being better than it was 50 years ago.

Overall, R&D expenditures related to science and engineering reported by universities was $49.4 billion in FY 2007. Combined sources of nonfederal funding grew by 7.8 percent in FY 2007, or 5 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars with noteworthy increases in R&D funding from industry. While this sounds like a good thing, that private industry is stepping up to fill the hole that federal government has created, remember that when private industry runs things, they run them to benefit themselves. Do you really think that some big company is going to give money to a scientist to figure something out if it doesn’t fit into their business model? If an advancement will not benefit that company (even if it would benefit humanity) they wont fund it. Federal dollars can be applied to all forms of science, not just the ones that make someone a lot of money.

But even if industry is picking up the slack lately they don’t have a great track record of filling in the gaps. For three consecutive years between FY 2001 and FY 2004, industry funding declined Only in FY 2007 did funding grow 11.2 percent to $2.7 billion.

Luckily the states are also filling in the gaps left by federal government, state and local government funding of R&D expenditures grew by 6.1 percent in FY 2007, increasing to $3.1 billion. Funding from academic institutions increased 6.6 percent in FY 2007 to $9.7 billion. Funding from all other sources combined, including nonprofit organizations and other nongovernmental entities, increased 10.0% to $3.5 billion.

Industry, the states, and other nonprofit industry is doing it’s best to keep R&D research afloat while the federal government is asleep at the wheel. If you want to live in a country that has the science chops to take on the technological power houses of Europe, Japan, and soon to be India and China than we need strong R&D and strong support for the sciences. Maybe you should mention this to your elected official (especially if they are a republican).

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