Another example of government short-sightedness has come to light through the announcement by UK Science Minister Ian Pearson that the operating budgets for the UK’s ALICE project maybe withdrawn. This is even before the £25 million project has finished being commissioned.
Designed to investigate and demonstrate Particle Accelerator technologies ALICE (Accelerators and Lasers in Combined Experiments) would be the first such device in the UK. If the operating funding is cut UK scientists would then have to rely on and travel to research facilities in the USA or Russia!
How much money are talking about here, just $3 million!
It seems very strange to me that as the UK’s traditional manufacturing continues shrink and with the volatility of the financial markets, surely Science is one area that we have to invest in to make sure that the UK has a serious place in the future of world Science.
Surely the UK government must be able to find £3 million to keep ALICE running? We seem to waste so much money on other less important projects!
Beasley's Place 