About this episode

France A Córdova discusses the importance of government support for Big Science and its broader societal benefits.

Why should governments back “Big Science” when discoveries are uncertain and the benefits may seem distant from taxpayers’ daily lives? In this public lecture, France A Córdova—astrophysicist and former Director of the US National Science Foundation, NASA Chief Scientist, and President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance—explores how curiosity-driven research and the large infrastructures that enable it deliver value well beyond the lab.

People in this episode

Guest: France A Córdova

Topics covered

• Big Science
• curiosity-driven research
• government funding
• scientific discovery
• public value of science

Keywords

• Big Science
• curiosity
• government funding
• scientific research
• public lecture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: US National Science Foundation, NASA, Science Philanthropy Alliance

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