While scientists certainly enjoy receiving government support for research, ask any one of them about the drawbacks and you're likely to hear grumbling about red tape, bureaucracy, and mountains of paperwork. Now, the White House would like to hear these complaints. And it says it wants to do something about them.
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is asking scientists and officials to send in their suggestions and criticisms so that government agencies can improve their policies and practices for funding research. A series of regional workshops will be held later this year to develop recommendations based on these comments.
"We have 20 different ways of doing the same things in terms of regulations and rules and forms that have to be filled out—all the things that drive scientists and researchers crazy," said Constance W. Atwell, cochair of the OSTP subcommittee conducting the assessment. "One university may have ...
