Crisis in Science

Abstract

There is no doubt that science is becoming a servant of politics and industry, to the great detriment of its cultural mission. In almost all countries throughout the world politicians and industrialists dispose of scientists, often decide on their work and sometimes even on their beliefs and convictions. This happens not only because some modern scientific activities require large resources. A more dangerous factor is the growing opportunism of many, mainly young, scientists to whom Science is only a modern way to a good career.

The author is professor of microbiology and head of the Department of Experimental Pathology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel.