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About this quote

What does it mean?
Scientific progress comes from free thinkers choosing their own subjects based on curiosity. Government support for science must protect this freedom of inquiry.
In plain terms
Science moves forward when people can explore freely, and this freedom should be protected even with government funding.
What can you take from it?
Protect freedom of inquiry even when accepting government support for science.

Where it applies

  • research institutions
  • policy making
  • academia

Putting it to work

  • advocate for academic freedom
  • design flexible grants
  • support independent research

Questions to consider

  • How much freedom do researchers have?
  • Who funds your work?

Another view

Funding often comes with strings attached.

More from Vannevar Bush

  1. The publicly and privately supported colleges, universities, and research institutes are the centers of basic research. They are the wellsprings of knowledge a…

    Permalink to quote #48
  2. We puzzle as to whether the universe is bounded or extends forever; whether, indeed, it may only be one universe among many. We speculate as to whether our uni…

    Permalink to quote #50
  3. Science, by itself, provides no panacea for individual, social, and economic ills. It can be effective in the national welfare only as a member of a team, whet…

    Permalink to quote #47

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