Funds for Science
Your editorial, “Playing Puppet Master to Science” (Sept. 15), is right on target when it questions the degree of scientific integrity of industry in funding academic research, and potential conflicts of interest related thereto; but you miss the mark when you cite the “major economic” benefits of expenditures by the National Science Foundation in the growth of the aerospace industry!
NSF support of academic research may be highly desirable. But please don’t tell us that the great growth of the aerospace industry has come out of such funding.
Certainly if you spend enough money on anything, there is bound to be some benefit. But the aerospace industry, at least, has realized very little growth as a result of NSF funding to universities compared to what might have resulted had the same dollars been spent on addressing technology needs, or included as part of independent R&D; by the contractors, or incorporated as part of a mission-oriented technology development effort.
GEORGE EPSTEIN
Los Angeles
