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From: eugene@pioneer.arpa (Eugene Miya N.)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Is Computer Science Science? (Funding)
Message-ID: <2868@ames.arpa>
Date: Thu, 24-Sep-87 13:52:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: ames.2868
Posted: Thu Sep 24 13:52:02 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Sep-87 17:07:07 EDT
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Sender: usenet@ames.arpa
Reply-To: eugene@pioneer.UUCP (Eugene Miya N.)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
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Status Quo? Hopefully a short note:
The reason why you have to make some clear distinctions care partially
be read in the latest CPSR [Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility] Newsletter.  It appears in the halls of places like
Ames, JPL, DOE Labs, the NAS (Natl. Acad. Sci), NSF, etc.  Basically if
you are not a science, you don't get funding from those Science
Agencies.

This is a difference in Geography (seen as an art) and Geology.
I studied remote sensing for several years.  The fact that it was in a
geography --->cartography -->graph --> "art" department was a big
minus.  RS is pretty respectable in some circles, and like AI, disreputable
in other circles.  (arrows for Mike Shafto ;-)

The level of funding CS in non-military work is dropping.  This is okay
if you don't mind working on ALVs, Pilots Associates, etc.  I believe
AI should be funded, but for it's improvement, not rediscoveries and
rehashes hashes of things done 20 years ago.  You are more than welcome
to do AI-research/CS-research, so long as you have money.

P.S. I mentioned JPL because I took one noted scientist to a CS lab
(graphics) and he came away saying, "Nice pictures, but what's the use?"

From the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers:

--eugene miya
  NASA Ames Research Center
  eugene@ames-aurora.ARPA
  "You trust the `reply' command with all those different mailers out there?"
  "Send mail, avoid follow-ups.  If enough, I'll summarize."
  {hplabs,hao,ihnp4,decwrl,allegra,tektronix,menlo70}!ames!aurora!eugene