Brexit: UK science's Sputnik moment

Brexit must be our "Sputnik moment". In October 1957, the event of the Russians launching a satellite ahead of the US kicked the American public and politicians into gear to ramp up their science investment across the board to hold their global lead. Investing in science also helped fuel America's economic boom... Over half of US economic growth since WWII is attributable to science and technology. Here in the UK, our world-leading reputation in science has also been thrown into jeopardy overnight. Just 6 weeks after the Brexit vote, we're already seeing the fallout on UK research. With UK science already badly underfunded, we need to make the current crisis our Sputnik moment - not just by petitioning the politicians - but engaging the public with the importance of science to UK society, health and prosperity, alongside the personal accounts of what is happening now and the critical issues we are facing...

[airesuk]

We now need confidence and above all, a can-do attitude. Let's role our sleeves up and just get on with it.

[david]

To what extent does the ideology of neoliberalism and the corporatization (privatization) of knowledge and education impact pure science?