Respect Research petition should be supported
Respect Research is a petition calling for governments to commit to long-term funding for research. This is a petition which is really worth signing if you feel strongly about how important scientific research is to our country.
The not very small print reveals that the campaign is being run by Adam Brandt and the Australian Greens. While I don’t always see eye-to-eye with the Greens’ policies, when they are right, they are right.
I could wish that there was something in there recognising that research should not always have an obvious or money-making outcome. But maybe that was a step too far.
Here’s what they have to say:
Australia depends on research, but governments repeatedly threaten research funds when setting federal budgets. This is short-sighted.
Research funding can’t be turned on and off like a tap and it needs secure, long-term public support.
I pledge to respect research and I call on the government to:
- Respect research as fundamental to our country’s health and prosperity.
- Maintain public funding for all areas of research in the May federal budget. As well, we should lift Australia’s total spending on research and development to 3% of GDP, a target also set by the United States.
- Stop the ‘brain drain’ and back our researchers, scientists and educators by providing secure career pathways, more certain funding arrangements and the national infrastructure that equips people to make discoveries.
- Respect academic independence. The government should respect the process of peer-review and expert recommendations.
- Secure our future by ensuring children get a better understanding of science and research at school.
See Respect Research.