Corrosion of the girders of science: testimony from journal editors to the NAS – UW News

On Tuesday, March 27, a National Academy of Sciences panel, the Committee on Science, Technology and the Law, heard testimony from the editors of research journals on the unhealthy state of science. One of those testifying was Dr. Ferric C. Fang, a professor of microbiology and laboratory medicine at the University of Washington and a UW Medicine physician. A broad range of reasons for the corrosion of the girders of science were discussed, including a lack of funding, a “leaky pipeline” of students, and an overemphasis on practical application. Read an account of this provocative and insightful discussion here.