How is science affected by politics?

Answer 1

Government can effect science by limiting the amount of money alloted for grants and research. More importantly government can affect science by making it illegal to do certain types of research. For example the United States was banned from doing research with stem cells for the entire Bush Administration (2001-2009). Thus halting American research in that field. Now America is significantly behind European countries in research on stem cells and the possible benefits from them. Additionally many scientists interested in that particular field left the United States to research in other countries. Because of the ban on stem cell research America has also lost a tremendous amount of money that could have been made from medical treatments involving stem cells.

Answer 2

Government agencies can influence scientific research by offering or withholding funding. This not only prevents research which might contradict the prevailing political opinion, it also corrupts the results, as researchers have an incentive to bias their data in the direction that will produce more funding.

Answer 3

BJP Government