Intel's Chair Decries Science Slashing

Craig Barrett, the chairman of Intel Corporation, doesn't mince words. In a scathing op-ed piece in the SF Chronicle, he describes the high-tech industry view of the dreadful state of funding for basic science research in 2008, due to the last-minute earmarking by the congressional appropriations committees. "At a time when the rest of the world is increasing its emphasis on math and science education (the most recent international tests - NAEP and PISA - show U.S. kids to be below average) and increasing their budgets for basic engineering and physical science research, Congress is telling the world these areas are not important to our future." Mr. Barrett, thank you!