(August 30, 2010 at 6:54 pm)Scarface Wrote: Well Adrian's link said that scientists are constantly looking for research to do in order to justify their funding, or words to that effect. Not unlike a quango.
It's more like this:
1) funding organisation (government, university, hospital, private enterprise etc...) has limited funds. enough for only one large scale study.
2) Research group A and B both want that funding, as such they need to present a solid reason for their project to receive funding.
3) The Funding Organisation considers the proposal, it's possible applications and contributive value, the track record of the scientists in terms of efficiency, results and reliability.
4) The most successful group in satisfying this criteria gets the grant and has justified their funding, the other group must seek funding elsewhere.
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