Science's Social Effects: We Need to Explore the Possibility of a New Ideal of "Impure" Science, In Which Scientists and Engineers Both Educate and Learn from Others About the Relation Between Science and Society (Perspectives‪)‬

In 2001, the National Science Foundation (NSF) told scientists that if their grant proposals failed to address the connection between their research and its broader effects on society, the proposals would be returned without review. The response was a resounding "Huh?" It's time we faced facts. Scientists and federal funding agencies have failed to respond adequately to a reasonable demand from Congress and the public. The demand: Researchers and their tax-supported underwriters must take a comprehensive look at the broader implications of their science in making decisions about what research to support.