Lordy.
Scientists aren't "nominated" by anyone. They *earn* their status through a
process of education and research that lasts a lifetime, but begins with a
doctorate earned in a university. It's an extremely competitive process.
Only a
fraction of the people who begin finish, and an even smaller percentage
actually
obtain employment.
--------------------------
Someone in government selects the people wo get the government grant money.
If you want to play word games, Wirt, and say that is not being 'nominated'
I hope you are having fun.
--------------------------
Although a few scientists do work for corporations and government labs, the
overwhelming majority of them exist within the university system, and
they're
the driving force behind the research conducted here in the United States
and
in the remainder of the developed world.
--------------------------
They work in universities, on projects funded by government money. They are
free to work on unfunded projects, but without the money, not much will get
done, unless it is a cheap project.
--------------------------
No one checks anyone with regards to their political stripes; indeed that's
the essence of academic freedom. You're free to work on whatever you deem is
important and say whatever you believe to be true. But you are constantly
judged
by your peers on the accuracy of your findings and the logic of your
conclusions. Your promotion, tenure and respect rest wholly on those two
qualities,
not who you vote for.
-------------------------
You are sure no one looks at their political stripes before awarding the
money?
How do you know? Since the money is awarded by a political entity, I don't
see how it could be avoided. Respect by the scientific community certianly
rests a lot on how plausible the results are, but tenure and promotion has
more to do with the ability to get grant money. For you to try to say it
rests 'wholely' on anything else is absurd.
-------------------------
Nonetheless, these people as a group are trained to sniff out charlatans and
misrepresentors, and you wil find very few who would vote for the current
administration for anything.
Wirt Atmar
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They are trained to complete with each other for grant money, and sniff out
any way to get ahead of anyone else to get it. Certianly per review is
a factor in this, but if your position is that scientists are above
political pressure, you have a lot to learn.
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