The development of an American science establishment -- today an
amalgam of scientists, engineers, universities, industrial
laboratories, and federal science agencies -- began early in the
twentieth century when the federal government began to invest in a
national scientific infrastructure. During World War II this
investment swelled to colossal proportions. At present, the yearly
federal investment in basic science and technology amounts to about
thirty-five billion dollars. How did this complex marriage between
science and government occur? How will increasing economic
pressures affect its future?
In this engaging overview of the science establishment and its
relationship with the federal government, renowned physicist Alfred
K. Mann details the reasons behind the creation of the four
nonmilitary federal science agencies that are responsible for the
bulk of this budget and are the principal supporters of scientific
research and technology in American universities. Looking into each
agency, he elucidates the ways in which decisions were made, whose
interests were at stake, and the resulting discoveries, mishaps,
and bureaucratic mazes that were constructed in the name of
research.
Mann interweaves fascinating stories that grew out of the
scientific enterprise:
- the allies' invention during World War II of the proximity
fuse and its tremendous battlefield success,
- the first use of blood plasma in World War II field
hospitals,
- the invention of radar,
- strategic policies of the Cold War,
- the double helix of DNA,
- space explorations and the space missions,
- modern global positioning systems (GPS),
- satellite surveillance, and
- recent declassification of covert operations.
Charting the origins and operations of a remarkable
collaboration, "For Better or for Worse" encompasses many of the
key scientific discoveries of our time and offers a renewed vision
of the future direction of the United States science
establishment.
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