It’s not like scientists sit around and do nothing when they don’t get funds. The might not be able to buy fancy new toys but they can still use their brains.
Sure they can; but how many of them will be willing to?
I don’t—for the typical scientist. But there are a few marginal scientists out there who are torn between keeping on doing research and quitting science to take up (say) surfing, and will pick the latter but would pick the former if counterfactually the NSF were still processing grants.
Sure they can; but how many of them will be willing to?
What do you think they are going to do? Spend their time learning cooking and taking long naps?
Don’t think about the first scientist you can think of, think about the marginal scientist.
I think you underrate the value of unsheduled time when it comes to coming up with new creative ideas.
I don’t—for the typical scientist. But there are a few marginal scientists out there who are torn between keeping on doing research and quitting science to take up (say) surfing, and will pick the latter but would pick the former if counterfactually the NSF were still processing grants.
Yes, but how much would they have contributed to science had they not quit science?