Science and Europe (feat. Professor Mike Merrifield)

Professor Michael Merrifield, an astronomer, expressing his own views about science and the upcoming referendum, in which the UK will decide whether to exit or remain in the European Union.

[concretetoy]

if you're not sure what to do, listen to smart people

[Tidalx]

Brady did you happen to find anyone who you often work with who was in favour of Brexit?

[RichardT]

Similar to divorce ... sometimes a union is worth trying to fix before throwing in the towel.

[jasondoe]

The European Union, after a promising start in past decades, is now failing... hard. It's no longer a union of the people.

But that's not a reason to abandon it – it's a reason to fix it.

(Of course, this is just my personal opinion.)

[draaven]

It is not so often that Brady asks stupid questions, but those around 3:50 about non-euro contacts suffering because of EU existence - that was dumb and lacked logic, no wonder professor said that question is not really valid.

[henryhart]

I'm a leaver, however, these arguments are very sound

[Dyslexic-Artist-Theory-on-Time]

I find on average the ‘haves’ are for staying and the ‘have nots’ are for leaving! And there is a lot of ‘have nots’ in the Britain and the EU

[nigeljohnson]

So what are scientists willing to exchange for the price of a grant or being on an euro email contact list?

[lethargogpeterson]

Interesting. I would never have thought of this as an effect of Brexit.

[edwardecl]

I understand the importance of science and adding value, but not at the expense of everything else.

[ironmark]

What is sovereignty worth to you? 10% funding? a bit more hassle in paperwork?
Unfortunate scientists are so dependent on EU funds.
An ever centralizing union, that discourages national sovereignty

[nigeljohnson]

Democracy is a strange concept in that it can be freely and peacefully be given away with a single vote, which maybe based on relatively trivial reasons, but reestablishing democracy once it has been lost invariably involves violent revolution associated with considerable suffering and many untimely deaths. So anything that might degrade our democracy should be avoided at all costs. In my view, given the direction in which an unreformed EU is heading, the safest option is to leave.

[Macieks]

it seems that it could be any other organisation not only EU

[ReadTheShrill]

I can't even conceive of why anyone would tolerate living under the rule of unelected bureaucrats.

[iamLI]

do you scientists choose what science projects you work on of your own accord, or not?....

as weak in the principle your arguments for the eu was here, rationally your arguments were way better than anything thunderf00t ever came up

[ravenslaves]

I can't help but like Professor Merrifield.
As far as his reasoning goes, I can't help but think that he's in favor of remaining in the EU just so he won't have to do a little extra paperwork.
Hating paperwork myself and recognizing a fellow, fundamentally lazy, person. His appeal to the easy way out...maybe even getting out of the office a little early on Friday...just might work for me.

Which ever way the UK decides to go, best of luck to the lot of you.

[mendel]

I hold to a radical notion that the British should rule over Britain.

[YaBoiKeith]

I'm an American and what is this?

[hookares]

I have no dog in this fight but I would like to make a comment. If university professors had the job of running a country, that country would be totally f*cked. Most have never had a job in the private sector, most have a job for life, they all get their income from the government, their total way of life depends on bigger government and accepting money from the average guy. They are necessary for the betterment of the world, but they should not decide how the country is governed other than one man one vote. The problem I see with the EU form here is, one man one vote has now become one huge bureaucracy, no vote. Professors work in a bureaucracy and see no problem with them. Go interview a fisherman and see what his opinion is, I would find the contrast very interesting. Good luck GB, no matter how the vote goes, the people of the USA respect and admire your country and only wish you the best.