🚀 go-pugleaf

Up until recently there were alarming publications describing the
decline of physical sciences, even hinting at an irreversible death of
science etc.:

http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2154
"This afternoon's decision to axe the physics department at Reading
University is part of potentially irreversible decline of UK science
that could soon see parts of the UK unable to provide courses in both
science and maths, warns UCU."

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/ingdahl2.html
"But there has been a marked global decrease of students willing to
study physics, and funding has decreased accordingly. Not only that,
the best students are not heading for studies in physics, finding
other fields more appealing, and science teachers to schools are
getting scarcer in supply. In fact, warning voices are being heard
about the spread of a "scientific illiteracy" where many living in
technologically advanced societies lack the knowledge and the ability
for critical thinking in order to function in their daily
environment."

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/comment/story/0,9828,1648111,00.html
"We are nearing the end of the "World Year of Physics", otherwise
known as Einstein Year, as it is the centenary of his annus mirabilis
in which he made three incredible breakthroughs, including special
relativity. In fact, it was 100 years ago yesterday that he published
the most famous equation in the history of physics: E=mc2. But instead
of celebrating, physicists are in mourning after a report showed a
dramatic decline in the number of pupils studying physics at school.
The number taking A-level physics has dropped by 38% over the past 15
years, a catastrophic meltdown that is set to continue over the next
few years. The report warns that a shortage of physics teachers and a
lack of interest from pupils could mean the end of physics in state
schools. Thereafter, physics would be restricted to only those
students who could afford to go to posh schools. Britain was the home
of Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday and Paul Dirac, and Brits made world-
class contributions to understanding gravity, quantum physics and
electromagnetism - and yet the British physicist is now facing
extinction. But so what? Physicists are not as cuddly as pandas, so
who cares if we disappear?"

Now nobody is hinting at anything. That is reasonable: you cannot make
people care about "Rigoletto", about Rachmaninov's second concerto,
about true science. Some things cannot be saved or at least I will not
try anymore.

Pentcho Valev