Academic Funding

Round up: Senator Coburn’s report on National Science Foundation funding

June 1, 2011 4130

There has been a good deal of debate across the web this week following the publication of a report by United States Senator Tom Coburn, claiming that “very few of the proposals submitted for NSF financial support represented transformative scientific research.”

Here is just some of the recent coverage and responses:

Read the full report here.

We want to hear your views: tell us your thoughts about this publication and what should the social and behavioral science community be doing to respond?

Sage, the parent of Social Science Space, is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, 24-year-old Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely. 

View all posts by Sage

Related Articles

Michael Burawoy, 1947-2025: Patron Saint of Public Sociology
Career
February 6, 2025

Michael Burawoy, 1947-2025: Patron Saint of Public Sociology

Read Now
An Investigation Showing How Fake Academic Papers Contaminate Scientific Literature
Communication
February 5, 2025

An Investigation Showing How Fake Academic Papers Contaminate Scientific Literature

Read Now
Palestine – Donald Trump’s Vietnam?
News
February 5, 2025

Palestine – Donald Trump’s Vietnam?

Read Now
How Research Credibility Suffers in a Quantified Society
Higher Education Reform
January 8, 2025

How Research Credibility Suffers in a Quantified Society

Read Now
Young Scholars Can’t Take the Field in Game of  Academic Metrics

Young Scholars Can’t Take the Field in Game of Academic Metrics

Drawing on discussions with academics who have oriented their work around public engagement and social impact, Daniel Pearson suggests these academics present an opportunity to rethink the existing structures of reward and recognition in higher education.

Read Now
Why Might RFK Jr Be Good for US Health Care?

Why Might RFK Jr Be Good for US Health Care?

The proposed appointment of Robert F Kennedy Jr as secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provoked howls […]

Read Now
From the University to the Edu-Factory: Understanding the Crisis of Higher Education

From the University to the Edu-Factory: Understanding the Crisis of Higher Education

It is a truism that academia is in crisis, in the UK as much as in many other countries around the world. […]

Read Now
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Paula Skedsvold

Although the National Science Foundation seeks proposals that are “potentially transformative,” the federal agency acknowledges that these proposals may be difficult to identify and “their transformative nature and utility might not be recognized until years later.” NSF also states that conventional projects may lead to unexpected and transformative results. Unfortunately, the report recommends the elimination of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate. Although this recommendation is not likely to gain traction, it does not make sense. Why eliminate funding for research that lies at the core of many of this nation’s challenges including education, health, intelligence, and defense? Also,… Read more »