Today's Quote: Changing the Rules on Scientific Research

Republicans want scientists to practice research their way.

"We have a system of peer-review science that has served as a model for not only research in this country but in others. The question is, does Congress really think it has the better ability to determine the scientific merit of grant applications or should it be left up to the scientists and their peers?"

--Bill Andresen, associate VP of Federal Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania, on a Republican-backed bill in Congress that would change the way money is allocated from the federal government for scientific research in order "to weed out projects whose cost can't be justified or whose sociological purpose is not apparent." (Story here)