Sir, – Following on from the letter from Seán Sherlock, Minister of State for Research and Innovation (July 10th) and from the huge excitement in the public and the media regarding last week’s announcement of the discovery at CERN of a Higgs boson candidate, it is interesting to note that the basic research area pursued by Peter Higgs and other scientists which led to this remarkable result is currently not regarded by Science Foundation Ireland as science worth funding. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – What a week it’s been for science! The announcement of the discovery of the Higgs boson, almost 50 years after it was predicted, has received widespread media coverage and enthralled the popular imagination.
By great good fortune this discovery coincides with Dublin having the honour of hosting the European City of Science 2012, with an exciting programme of events and exhibitions centred on the European Science Open Forum this week.
With perfect timing, Prof Rolf Heuer, the director general of CERN, is visiting Ireland during these celebrations to take part in a “Higgs Master Class” on Saturday.
What better way to convey the excitement and significance of fundamental science to the general public? But will it convey the importance of fundamental science to Government ministers and the Irish funding agencies? Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has chosen 2012 to be the year in which it ceases to accept applications under the now defunct Research Frontiers Programme.
Ironically this means that if Peter Higgs was working in Ireland today he would not be funded under current SFI guidelines.
The Government has a stated aim of attracting more young people into science, yet perhaps Ireland’s best kept scientific secret is that we are one of the very few European Union countries that is not a member of CERN.
Elementary particle physics is one of the most exciting areas of research in modern physics and attracts many of the brightest young minds into the physical and mathematical sciences.
To encourage young people into science we must be part of the global adventure that is “pure” science and fund “blue skies” research. If we want oranges we must plant the trees! – Yours, etc,