Scientist wants more sex and free re-hab

The New Scientist magazine has asked a group of prominent scientists and scientific thinkers what one piece of advice they would give the incoming president.

Among others, Ray Kurzweil, an inventor and futurist, argues for government research dollars and tax incentives to capture the 1 part in 10,000 of the sunlight that hits the Earth to meet 100 per cent of our energy needs.

Peter Agre, recipient of the 2003 Nobel prize in chemistry, says the first priority should be to re-establish the Presidential Science Adviser within the White House with a rank equivalent to cabinet secretary.

All very laudable, but my favourite is Matthew Chapman, co-founder of ScienceDebate2008, who would urge the next president, "to see it as his patriotic duty to raise the status of those who use their brains. Instead of being derided as geeks or nerds, scientists should be seen as courageous realists and the last great heroic explorers of the unknown. They should get more money, more publicity, better clothes, more sex and free rehab when the fame goes to their heads."

Party on, dude! as I think they say across the pond.