Government policy is wrecking science

The editors of THE mistitled this article: it doesn't blame government, it blames teachers. It should also draw attention to the censure of unfashionable free speech, and the promotion of fashionable superficial consensus, on campuses, as constraints on creativity and integrity

Totally agree, politically charged headline. Though important to point out that scientists themselves have to take the blame, not simply for the compliance to which Tim alludes, but also for their contribution to and complicity in Research Council policy, which has allowed the impact agenda to bear down. The 'game playing' is going on at all levels, from the teachers and pupils through to those in the HE and research hierarchy dancing to the tune being played by government. We (scientists) have allowed the corruption of the Haldane Principle, to pander to political pressure.

One needs to look to the entire academic enterprise, particularly the publishing in "scholarly" journals and sense what university faculty have done to themselves. Fabrication of data is just a subset of the entire publish/perish/promotion/tenure/impact factors that are proliferating intellectual persiflage, aided by fellow colleagues in the same Sisyphean "game" and like Jack Horner, holding out the plum on the thumb.

This article is rather short, there is so much to say on the issue. I agree, the government and previous governments have lacked imagination for a long time and they only care about useful and practical solutions today, research takes time and the government is not willing to invest in projects that are not going to deliver in the near future.