Scientists vow to spurn ‘star wars’

Press, 11 October 1985, Page 6

Scientists vow to spurn ‘star wars’

NZPA-Reuter Princeton New Jersey The majority of Princeton University’s physics and mathematics faculties had signed a petition pledging that they would not solicit or accept strategic defence initiative research funds, scientists said yesterday. They said that 75 per cent of members of the physics faculty and 60 per cent of the mathematics faculty believed that 5.D.1., commonly known as “star wars," was “unworkable and dangerous.”

They hoped to generate the impression that the scientific community did not support the programme. Ronald Reagan’s S.D.I. research programme is aimed at developing an anti-missile defence system. “The S.D.I. programme makes no sense from any point of view,” said Princeton physics professor, Phillip Anderson, a Nobel Laureate in 1977. “The over-all scheme is just a kind of hare-brained nonsense.

“It’s going to be very expensive and in the end it’s not going to amount to anything. We thought that one important thing to do is

get before the public the idea that the scientific community does not think this will work.”

Forty-two of 56 faculty and senior researchers in the physics department and 25 of 42 mathematics faculty had already signed the pledge. Both departments are regarded as among the best in the world. Two hundred people had signed the petition throughout the university. Scientists organising the petition said that some who signed it might suffer personal loss by doing so. “In terms of individual researchers — the ones that don’t accept ‘star wars’ money — it probably will hurt them,” said Eliot Lied, a professor of physics and mathematics.

“That’s where the money is these days — in the military and a huge chunk of it is in 5.D.1.,” said an assistant professor of physics, Peter Meyers. fi Other research money is getting tight.” The petition will continue to be circulated for several weeks among the chemistry and engineering departments, as well as physics and mathematics.