Net Results: Fianna Fáil's re-election slogan, "A lot done, more to do", appropriately was cited several times last week when scientists and directors from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) presented the Taoiseach and Tánaiste with an overview of accomplishments.
The Dublin Castle Science Summit featured a formidable round table of the nation's crème de la crème of science folk sitting in two curved wings at either side of Mr Ahern and Ms Harney.
SFI director general Dr William Harris, who chaired the session, threatened the Government leaders with a test at the end of the two-hour period on the difference between a protein and a proton.
For my part, I'd have liked to have heard the Government folk explain the difference between an investment and a risk, to see how their thinking works. That question is at the heart of science funding internationally and a key concern of SFI: how do you weigh up a project's potential for payback?
And don't think only of cash potential. The vision must be much broader - while a project might only employ a few, or might never give a tangible return like a marketable product, it may have significant economic, intellectual, social and cultural impact for, yes, Ireland Inc, but also for people in general, Irish or not; and for other aspects of Irish life.
A project might form a cornerstone of national expertise that will develop over time. It might become the basis for industry partnerships. It might become an international research beacon for students and academics. Or it might not go anywhere at all.
For a shamefully long time - and even well after we'd rushed into greater prosperity than the land had ever seen - the State had little research funding of any kind, due to a serious lack of science, technology and R&D vision.
It seems we were doing so well at attracting in science and technology firms that little thought was given to growing our own or keeping those that were here.
That attitude has clearly changed, in large part due to the efforts and interests of the Tánaiste. She has shown consistent commitment to an area that has not seemed to inspire others in Government.
The warmth felt towards her for her involvement was certainly apparent in the many mini-presentations (shall we call them nano-presentations?) from scientists and technologists.
Indeed, such was the group hug atmosphere that many speakers praised the Tánaiste and forgot to even verbally acknowledge the Taoiseach, a rather embarrassing breach of etiquette. It just goes to show how rarely science strolls the corridors of political power.
The most striking recurring motif of the presentations was how utterly transformed the R&D and scientific landscape is already, in just a few years. Top scientists, both foreign figures and the home-grown variety who went abroad, spoke of their excitement in coming or returning to Ireland and finding support for work that is often at the cutting edge in biotechnology, medicine, nanotechnology and computing.
Really, this was more a back-slapping session for those directly involved with or benefiting from SFI and its plump €368 million in grants it gets to dish out over the next five years.
A proper discussion and debate about SFI's role, what Government is doing and the kinds of projects funded - with a little audience participation, and with Government's two grand pooh-bahs in attendance and at the mercy of questioners - would have been an afternoon to relish.
Instead, the event was safely structured - nothing could be introduced to scare the horses, the microbes or the T&T.
It was also easy to forget among all the SFI-ing that there are other independent research institutions, other ways of financing R&D, other non-SFI-funded luminaries in the State - all worth remembering because research shouldn't only be about SFI. We need consistent support and recognition of other R&D efforts, too.
I'd love to attend a more inclusive science summit that raises such questions and opens out discussion - and also includes the Tánaiste and Taoiseach at the front table. The theme could be: "A lot done, more to do".
klillington@irish-times.ie weblog: http://weblog. techno-culure.com
