The Politics in Physics

Physics is a field that requires a lot of research. However, this research does not often thrive in the private sector. Companies research things that can make them money such as pharmaceutical companies exploring new drugs and chemists researching new and updated materials. However, physics does not have a simple or sellable byproduct like the other sciences fields. Sure physics can be actively applied to building planes, roller coasters, and a myriad of other things. However, the research just doesn't create that same marketability. This is where the government steps in.

Unlike the private sector, the government sees a lot more value in research. Being at the forefront of new and groundbreaking discoveries offers a lot of prestige to the country that pursues and invests in the research. Additionally, it can be argued that with all of the resources the government has, it has a duty to push the advancement of physics. Plus, because the government funds this research, it has the ability to choose what it wants. Think the military, space or medicine. However, their priorities and intentions are not always evident to the common citizen.

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For example, any research funding conducted by the U.S. government requires the support of Congress, including both the House of Representatives, which appropriates and approves the research funds as well as the Senate. This, in turn, causes funding to be inherently political. Now unlike some other issues, research in the field of physics is not really a Republican or Democratic issue. Rather, it is an issue of money and which federal agencies should be funded (and for what causes). As a lot of research is on short term contracts, which are often just three to five years, the funding committees have the discretion to renew the research as the contracts start to expire. This means that if results are not seen quickly, funding for projects risks not being renewed. Additionally, by the time renewal comes around for these projects, there is often a new administration or new congressional leaders with new plans and promises. These changes in leadership can funding to be cut in certain fields or research dollars to be redistribute to other priorities 

I believe that it is the government's duty to pursue research in the field of physics. If it doesn’t, then it is likely that new discoveries will slow down the overall understanding of the universe and our world will be left exactly where it is now.