Proposed US Budget A Major Blow to High Energy Physics

[Gokul43201]

Hey Gokul,

I have a follow up to this question of yours. Don't miss the Feb 1, 2008 issue of Science. There is a piece written by Adrian Cho on how the BES section of DOE is being affected by this current budget crisis. It is more severe than even I had heard, even when they are not affected as badly as high energy physics and nuclear physics.

Zz.

Yes, it's been a terrible hiring season this year.

But it looks like things might get just a little bit better. Congress just passed an emergency spending bill for NSF and DoE (Office of Science).

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-fermi-lab-jobs-saved_both_28jun28,0,3964738.story

In a 92-6 vote, the Senate passed an emergency spending bill that includes $62.5 million to the Department of Energy to ensure that Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory and other facilities can continue research and retain staff, the office of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) reported.

The National Science Foundation will receive another $62.5 million for critical research, part of which will benefit the two laboratories, Durbin's office stated.

 

[ZapperZ]

The supplemental budget is merely a band aid. Fundamental philosophy regarding science funding still hasn't changed. Not only that, we will be saddled with a continuing resolution come the new fiscal year, because Congress would not pass a new budget until the new president is in office. So we will continue to have the disastrous FY08 budget well into 2009.

Things are not looking good at all.

Zz.

 

[Fearless]

How much is the total spending on science (non-weaponrelated research) in the US? How much did they cut, what in the budget went up in spending?

Actually I find this appalling. But it's what I expect of the state, when they sense they can get away with it, they spend nothing on science, when they need it they overspend and waste tax-dollars.