"It is in the realm of the public interest for society to help support our efforts," Harold Varmus, Nobel laureate and one of the co-chairs of Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, said during an interview on NPR's All Things Considered.

Varmus said that many important decisions that will be made - weapons treaties, energy, health care - are going to be informed by science, "and it is the responsibility of scientists not simply to work in a lonely tower in the pure exercise of curiosity but also to connect with societal goals."

My favorite part of the interview was his description of the ivory tower, which Varmus admitted is not so lonely, given the "team sport" atmosphere of research:

All sciences are team sports and all of us wave the banner of collaboration and interaction very forcefully. I think that's a common misconception, that we're geeks and social misfits who don't enjoy the camaraderie of one of the most exciting adventures that human beings can experience these days.

Varmus just had a memoir of sorts published - The Art and Politics of Science. Sounds fascinating; I'm definitely going to pick up a copy.