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Scientists who carry out basic research sometimes find themselves unexpectedly caught up in a web of vitriolic public attacks by politicians pretending to expose foolish, dollar-wasting projects. 

, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, found this out the hard way.
As she explained last year 

 to carry out basic research on duck genitalia.
Unlike its cousin 

science is not intended to address any particular pressing human problem; it is motivated by a wonderful combination of human curiosity, love of knowledge about our world for its own sake and scientific theory.
Few among us would deny the rewards of basic science — both for satisfying human curiosity and as a pipeline for the applied-research projects that may emerge from the basic research. But even ardent supporters of science may wonder: 

 reports, Brennan did become the target not just of gentle wonderings, but of scathing attacks. Let's take a few moments, though, to focus on Brennan's explanation (in 


Here, then, we find the intersection of male-female sexual conflict and evolutionary adaptation as expressed in the animal kingdom. It's intriguing stuff, as the science writers 

 conveyed back in 2009.
Now, in the August issue of the journal 

 of the University of Oklahoma, has published a commentary called "

Time to step up: defending basic science and animal behavior

." The commentary moves beyond any single research project to reinforce the relationship between basic and applied science, while also acting as a mini-handbook for scientists who wish to respond effectively when politicians (or others) single out their research for scorn.


The article takes scientists through what to do early on, when government funds are first awarded: set up a Google alert so that you'll know if your work is discussed in the press; prepare a document explaining your "big questions"; set up a website that explains in some depth why you are doing what you are doing.


If an attack ensues, don't defend only your own project; rather, become a public advocate for basic science more broadly. In fact, become that advocate even if your work isn't attacked. Explain the important government role for funding basic science without the influence of privately funded special interests. Cite examples to show that governmental funding for scientific research yields tremendous dividends to our society in terms of technology and medicine, even though the budget for basic science is comparatively small, as 

. Mention how basic science ignites the minds of our college students and how federally funded science acts as a significant economic base for research universities.


Get out there in the community — to Rotary clubs and science cafes — and engage with the public!

There's no telling when basic research may lead to applications for enhancing human economy and health, a point that Brennan, Clark and Mock emphasize. They also, I'm happy to report, refuse to yield ground on a significant point: Basic research deserves funding for its own sake.

Earlier this week, I conversed by email with each of the three authors. Rulon Clark emphasized the need to go beyond a defensive posture in response to attacks:

Might the article's suggestions be applied beyond basic animal-behavior science in the arena of so-called "controversial" science, involving, say, evolution more generally or climate change? Patricia Brennan replied to me in this way:

I just want to underscore that the basic science I'm talking about in this post isn't marginal or fringe stuff. It's the opposite: thoughtfully proposed, funded science that's been through a rigorous process of expert evaluation. The resulting work — whether about animals' evolutionary adaptations or the effects of shifting global weather patterns — becomes a source of knowledge for us all.

As Brennan, Clark, and Mock put it in their commentary:

 was released in paperback in April. You can keep up with what she is thinking on Twitter: 

Science

Barbara J. King

Author

Unlike its cousin applied science, basic science is not intended to address any particular pressing human problem; it is motivated by a wonderful combination of human curiosity, love of knowledge about our world for its own sake and scientific theory.

Ducks do it differently, and science wants you to know about it

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