Creativity in Negative Times

Many space bloggers have been ranting about the reduction in science funds included in the stimulus package while it was in debate. While they do have a valid point and I agree that a reduction is a move in the wrong direction, I think the space community should be gracious. I believe there is enough public will to shut down NASA and other government funded science programs. Someone who has lost their job simply would want the government to focus on creating jobs, not going to mars. The space community must tread lightly when discussing issues involving funding at this time.

The title of this post comes from a Morningcoach podcast of the same name. JB Glossinger presents a very positive commentary on the nation's economic crisis. JB quotes a blog post by Seth Godin. From Seth's blog, "Grave new world". Both the podcast and the blog post have inspired me to write this.

Creativity loves a problem, but it hates a lousy audience.

If everyone around you is sure the economy is tanking, that the end is near, that time is up and the company is headed for the tubes, it's almost impossible to find a creative solution.

Creativity changes the game, whatever game is being played. "We're going to run out of cash by the end of the year," is accurate unless you count creativity into the equation. Then the accurate statement is, "Under the current rules and assumptions, we're going to run out of cash..." Big difference.

Creativity demands exposure to market needs, and insulation from market fears. Give it some time to work, some support, some breathing room. That's when creativity has a chance to change the game(1).

Creativity loves this economic problem. The US government is trying plans on unheard of 20 years ago. The economy is redefining American society and those who can find a way serve the new society will be ultra successful. The bad news is, America is doomed if one looks at our current social/political/economic structure. We can not compete in manufacturing like we once did. We are losing our edge in the global market place. But, let us look outside the box.

We are a nation of thinkers and of free thought, but we are also a nation of businessmen and businesswomen. It is my observations of the stock market and bank lending practices (or, lack there of) at this time that I base the following claim on: the investors of this nation are curled up in the fetal position, rocking back and forth, sucking their thumbs and screaming "The world is over, the world is over". That is a problem because those investors are the audience for game changing ideas. Creativity does not like this "lousy audience"(2).

So, here is my comment on the funding of science in the economic package. The US needs to change the game, that means we need people out their who will listen to our creative people. The President is striving for this, but we can do more. We need a place were ideas can flourish, we are all exposed to the market needs, but, because of media over saturation, we are also exposed to market fears. Under the current rules and assumptions ideas like a moon and mars colony or space solar power would be laughed at. With tons of people whining about the lack of money when it still exists, game changing ideas will be crushed. We need to support this nation's ideas. The only thing that can save us now is an idea.

The science agencies of this nation will always listen. For example, if someone claimed to have invited anti-gravity, NASA will at least look at the paper or the experiment. Universities might not as they tighten their belts. We need a professional audience, unaffected by market fears. Unmotivated by money, but by curiosity. So, the following numbers are great:

Science:

• $8.5 billion for programs at the National Institutes of Health, including biomedical research on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart disease.

• $3 billion for basic research by the National Science Foundation.

• $1.6 billion for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science for areas such as climate, biofuels, high-energy physics, nuclear physics and fusion energy.

• $1.5 billion for NIH to renovate university research facilities.

• $1 billion for NASA, including $400 million for climate change research.(3)

But I ask you, is that enough to create a game changing audience and a sanctuary from the market.

Sources:

• 1 and 2: Seth G. Seth's Blog: A grave new world [Internet]. Feb. 3, 2009 - [Cited Feb. 14, 2009]. Available from: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/02/grave-new-world.html
• 3: Gannett News Service. What’s in the stimulus package [Internet]. Deb 13, 2009 - [Cited Feb. 14, 2009] Available from: http://www.freep.com/article/20090213/NEWS15/90213102