Maybe a dumb question but how does funding from fossil fuel companies influence the research? Does it not just get sent to the college to use as they see fit?
this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2023
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Even if the funding is applied with no strings attached, there's the implication that if you upset the sponsor they won't donate in the future.
In general, industry grants have strings attached:
- The company chooses which topics they fund, so for example you see the fossil fuels industry paying to study methane from agriculture
- The company chooses which researchers to fund, with the implicit understanding that the publication of unfavorable results will mean that you don't get the next grant
Government grants could technically do the same, but tend to be handled by a committee looking at interesting research topics, rather than commercial advantage
I will give you money to research something. If the results are favorable to me, I will be able to give you more money to continue researching the thing. If they are not favorable to me, you will be required to find new sources of funding.
Surprised this isn't already a thing, well actually not that surprized