A Message from a Millennial to a Millennial: Making Science a National Priority

America has always been a leader in medical innovation and scientific discovery. Which is why, when you think of science, it’s easy to picture a lab filled with bright lights, whirring machines, and lots of furrowed eyebrows. The image of a scientist brings to mind one set of those furrowed eyebrows bent over an experiment, with focused energy, putting the last puzzle piece into a mystery that will save the lives of thousands. Unfortunately, today walking into most labs would not yield such an experience. Rather, imagine a tumbleweed blowing by an empty lab while scientists use all their intellectual resources to compete with their peers and mentors for research funding… no whirring, and much less energy focused on solving medical puzzles.
Growing up, I imagined that my generation would gather all of the knowledge painstakingly uncovered by dedicated scientists of the past and release it into the universe to save and improve lives across the world; but that vision no longer seems viable. What has happened to bring us so far from this dream? Better yet – what can we do to get it back?
Without question, we need to provide our most capable and resourceful with the tools required to cure deadly and disabling disease, curb skyrocketing healthcare costs, and secure America’s global leadership in research and development. We need to reject scientific skepticism and complacency that hinders innovation. Most importantly, we need our policymakers to lead this charge.
As the Bri...

Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - October 12, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Science & Research Uncategorized Source Type: blogs