Like anyone with an interest in science I am appalled and saddened by the short-sightedness that has resulted in recent funding cuts in both the US and the UK for major physics projects.

The huge costs of some fundamental physics projects, like the International Linear Collider do make them relatively easy targets, especially as the very nature of research like this is that it’s quite difficult to identify the benefits up front other than satisfying a quest for knowledge. (I’m not saying there aren’t other benefits, but it’s hard to fill in the box on the form.)

Even so, there’s some cost cutting that strays from mere short-sightedness to absolute madness.

In the corporate world, the classic example of this is that, when money’s tight, one of the first things against the wall is training. When I’m not writing, I give large companies training in being more creative (see the Creativity Unleashed website), and if there’s one thing you need when cash is tight it’s the ability to solve problems and generate new ideas better. But no, training is easy to cut, so out it goes.

The aspect of the recent physics spending cuts that I think most demostrates this apparent urge to shoot humanity in the collective foot is the cut in the US contribution to the ITER nuclear fusion project. As we run out of conventional fuels and need more clean energy, it’s absolutely barking mad to remove funding from a project that is one of the few hopes for generating a massive amount of clean energy.

I’m sure conspiracy theorists would point out that some of the powers-that-be in the US have a certain vested interest in promoting oil while it lasts, but this is much more likely to be idiocy than conspiracy.

The fact is, it’s a nice, easy to slash lump sum, destined for some strange physics thing that few voters really understand, so hey, why not.

Time to lie down in a darkened room.