Topic: Other Topics
Comments by Philip Clifford
University of Illinois Chicago
5/19/2015
Proposed Actions
Overlooked in the topic categories is taking control of wasteful spending by scientists. There needs to be some accountability for the way direct costs are spent.
Comments on the Problem
Part of the funding equation is increasing the number of dollars available, but the expenditure side of the equation includes not only indirect costs but direct costs that are not efficiently used. There is too much waste in every lab on a floor having duplicated equipment, meetings scheduled in Washington DC where the hotel rooms cost >$300/night of taxpayer dollars. There are conspicuous differences in the way science is done in well funded labs versus those that have not been able to maintain funding. The well funded labs buy all the latest gadgets, use premade and premixed supplies, and waste a considerable amount of money because there are no disincentives. There needs to be some accountability for the way direct costs are spent.