Countering libertarian arguments against science funding

Jack Stilgoe: Matt Ridley's argument for cuts to science is dangerous because it is half-right

British policymakers are deep in the throes of another spending review, which means that science must rehearse its arguments for public support. Civil servants in the department of Business Innovation and Skills will join learned societies and national academies in trying to persuade the Treasury - again - that their work is important enough to avoid the deepest cuts. Meanwhile, scientists themselves are mobilising around the message that 'Science is as vital as ever'. They should all be praying that George Osborne isn't listening to Matt Ridley.

In a new piece for the Wall Street Journal, Ridley argues against public science funding by revealing 'the myth of basic science'. He is half-right, and a talented polemicist who is half-right can be a dangerous foe.