James Simons on Basic Research - Numberphile

James Simons, billionaire and science philanthropist, on why he devotes so much of his fortune to basic research.
Eric Lander on basic research: • Why Basic Research is ...
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[@Falcrist]

I'm happy that James Simons feels the need to give money to basic research... but this should be where government should be investing. Near-term goals like cancer treatments and such can be covered by universities and corporations. Such entities have immediate needs, and can handle projects with maybe a 10 year ROI. Basic research often has an ROI of decades or even CENTURIES. That is something that should be handled by entities with similar life-spans.

[@joshhyyym]

I think it's embarrassing that we have a society where the research ideals of governments are so shortsighted that philanthropists feel they need to redress the balance.
I am, of course, massively grateful - from the point of view of society - that people are supporting basic research.

[@Trunks47r786]

I'm terrified of going into research. As much as I love learning and discovering, I don't have a lot of money and I may go into industry to make up for that. I believe this is a common occurrence among science students.

[@simetry6477]

It's true. Corporations aren't like that all. Most of the corporations who claim credit for innovations are funded by the government either for their research or for the research that supported their work.

[@JAContes]

I love this guy. He is my favorite billionaire. It is a shame that most people have no idea who this guy is.

[@hermest99]

Now that's a great way to spend your money. What a great guy.

[@Mr.Plutonium]

True but then again he is free to do what he wants with his money.

[@trifeccta]

By the way this is what 20yo kids, who learn from online gurus, are up against as day traders 😂😂😂

[@WrnMyr]

Our societies and governments should be investing in more basic research, but our politicians - and voters, quite often - want to see returns by the next election cycle.

[@secrettangerine]

This is interesting because you can totally understand both sides. Of course if the government is going to spend a lot of money on research they want to see applications or benefits, but, as he said, basic research is so important too. So my question is: Would we end up with more applications and solutions overall is basic research had all the funding it wanted, or would we end up with more applications and solutions if translational research was given most of the money because the research would be focused on a particular problem?

[@GaelinEruien]

We need more people like Simons in positions of federal leadership.

[@zoecarlibur]

3:38 Like steve jobs, He knows how to hire and work with smart people.

[@TrondArneAusdal]

Today great minds go into economics, whereas they yesterday got into maths and science. Sad..

[@sk42sk221]

1st

[@sputnikfloydwho]

They ain't gunna take my money and raise muh taxes for support of science and atheism. No way.

[@parkerflop]

sputnikfloydwho why anything about atheism? Funding research doesn't have anything to do with faith or disbelief.

[@simetry6477]

Mustafa M Yes we understand that but others don't.

[@sl8ofhand]

For all his philanthropy, he doesn't come across as having much human feelings...seems terribly dismissive of most of the questions...like his time is much too valuable to spend explaining to those of us who didn't have his experiences and opportunities...unlike most of your guests who are happy to explain to us plain folk...

[@aeroscience9834]

I have to disagree. If he didn't want to talk, he wouldn't be doing an interview.