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This week in European sciences -- week 19|2004 |
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FAZ
about Germany's research budget. The Economist about
the forthcoming invasion of 17-year cicadas to the U.S., and a piece on
visa-queuing in the U.S. El Pais about the usage of
metaphors in science communication. FAZ about German
science funding policy and the role of the research minister Bulmahn.
Der Spiegel about pseudo-innovations in automobile business.
FAZ about methane burbs causing dinosaurs' death.
In addition: NY Times discusses the use of IT. |
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After German
research minister Bulmahn bought the 250 million euro increase in her
budget as a success, Christian Schwägerl comments in an editorial for
FAZ (May 7, 2004) that
indeed ten billion euros are needed to approach the goal to spend three
percent of GDP for research by the year 2010. He agrees Chancellor Schröder's
argument to change "subsidies of the past" (ie, for mining coal, agro
business and private housings) into "innovations for the future". But
that "innovation fuss" makes Schwägerl angry because while talking about
future needs policy makers assure paying subsidies at the same time. Also,
simple for tactical reasons the German political parties block each other
to fork out money for reseach. |
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Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung |
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In May numberless insects will emerge from the grounds of Indiana, Maryland and Missouri, U.S., and swarm out. The 17-year cicadas will do no harm, will irritate some people, but others will be delighted like children or entomologists who have the opportunity to study these curious creatures in more detail, writes the Economist (May 6, 2004). Most impressive is that the cicadas live on a 17-year cycle. The prime-numbered lifecycle helps "cicadas avoid damaging resonances with the two- and three-year population fluctuation of their predators". Visa
delays are deterring scientists from going to the U.S., reports
the Economist (May
6, 2004) and quotes a study of the U.S.'s National Science Foundation
that since the country's economy depends in large measure on the success
to attract foreign science talents, "anything which diminishes this
flow is likely to be bad for America." Many universities reported
to investigators a decline in applications by foreign graduate students.
Average time to get a visa was 67 days (in 2003). But things improve,
as the Economist writes. According to government officials visa-processing
times have dropped significantly and science applicants shall be put on
the head of the queue. "Nevertheless, the country might help its
chances of remaining top dog if it applied some of its technical know-how
to the task of processing visas more efficiently", smiles the Economist. |
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The
Economist |
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Hal Varian,
a professor at Berkeley, discusses in an contribution to the New York
Times (May
6, 2004) the status of information technology (IT) in today's business
sector. He comments on a controversy provoked by an article in the Harvard
Business Review and a book by Nicholas Carr who questioned the relevance
of IT. Surely, IT is important, but its impact changed over time. "At
one time, information technology was so expensive and so difficult to
manage that companies could make large amounts of money simply by being
able to make systems work", writes Varina. Firms like IBM had great
competitive advantages by its IT skills. But today, technology has become
cheaper and more manageable. "Anybody can set up a Web server, or
an accounting system." IT is now a commoditiy, "it's a utility
now, like telephone service or electricity." As such it matters a
lot. |
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New
York Times |
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Are Science Metaphors Misleading? Scientists
often use metaphors when they communicate abstract things. But: "Could
it be, that this is more confusing for the public than explaining the
reality?" asks David Pozo from the Universidad de Sevilla in El País
(May 5, 2004). Metaphors
are used very considerately, says Pozo. In his opinion, the following
examples are questionable: "cell fabrics", "good cholesterol",
"demographic explosion", "the book of life". The picture of
a scientist who "reads in the genome" transmits to the public a wrong
image, that is: a scientist is like a "preacher reading the holy book".
That provokes distrust. Finally, Pozo evokes for a more correct Furthermore,
he pleads for more critical comments on new findings by the journalists.
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El
Pais |
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Tough Play for the German Research Minister It's time
for a change, thought German chancellor Gerhard Schröder at the beginning
of the year 2004 and proclaimed this year as the "German year of
innovation". He hoped to boost German economy by heavier support
of its science and research capabilities and gave the go ahead for his
research minister, Edelgard Bulmahn. Now Bulmahn is in struggel, as Christian
Schägerl writes in FAZ (May
5, 2004). She has to re-vitalize research and its structures, foster
the public understanding of science and thus increase the amount of students
studying science, attract researchers which migrated abroad back to Germany,
support excellence in science, and last but not least convert knowledge
into products. No easy task when cash is low. Schwägerl criticizes
also the re-labeling of former micro-technology research into nowadays
hyped nano-science projects. Simply horse trading. |
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Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung |
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Pseudo-Innovations in Car Manufacturing Christian
Wüst reports in Der Spiegel (May
3, 2004) that car manufacturers and suppliers are used to promote
pseudo-developments that have the look of cutting edge research but are
simply over-designed and over-engineered gadget, for instance the electro-hydraulic
braking system developped by auto maker Mercedes and supplier Bosch. The
system hasn't got any advantage over existing hydraulic brakes. Wüst
refers to Rainer Kurek, a German car development engineer, who says that
most auto makers just lack a sound knowledge about customers' needs. |
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Der
Spiegel |
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Methane Burb Caused Saurier's Death Two years
ago in summer geologists found in South Germany near the town of Eislingen
the fossils of fish dinosaurs, write Karen Schnebeck and Nick Reh in FAZ
on Sunday (May
2, 2004). Now a research from the University of Tübingen considers
a new hypothesis that might explain the cause of the dinosaurs' death.
According to isotope measurements of element carbon Michael Montenari
thinks that an earth burb of methane hydrate about 181 million years ago
was the reason of an ecological catastrophe that destroyed life within
an area of severel hundred square kilometers. |
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Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung |
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