Some important pointers for improving communication between scientists and politicians (Nature 480, 153; 2011) emerged from a meeting last year between the two groups, organized by the International Risk Governance Council.
Support for fundamental research is essential, but scientists shouldn't be tempted to overstate their claims. Specifically, requests for funding for basic research into a particular question shouldn't imply that the research will definitely provide the answer. When basic questions lead to technological advances, these typically emerge in another, unexpected area — take quantum mechanics and the transistor, for example, or the study of gas conductivity that led to the discovery of X-rays.
