David King's suggestion that we should cut back on space research and basic physics in order to focus on more immediate issues is misguided. Of course, the scientific community should work as hard as possible to address major issues that affect our everyday lives such as climate change, infectious diseases and counterterrorism; in particular, "clean energy" research deserves far higher priority. And science and technology are the prime routes to tackling these issues.
But it is mistaken to claim that global problems will be solved more quickly if only researchers would abandon their quest to understand the universe and knuckle down to work on an agenda of public or political concerns. These are not "either/or" options – indeed, there is a positive symbiosis between them.
Also, it is, crucially, the big scientific issues that attract the best people into science – even though they end up in varied careers. David King is right that environmental issues are noble challenges, that they deserve higher priority, and that we need urgently to address global warming through science. But a prerequisite for this is an enthusiastic and inspired generation of talented scientists. And it's well documented that many are attracted by space physics and particle physics. Telling young people that many of the most interesting bits of research are off-limits – and that they would need to go abroad to pursue them – would be an "own goal". It would send a negative signal to all aspiring scientists.
High-profile, world-leading discoveries make us feel good about ourselves and boosts interest in research, just as winning armfuls of Olympic medals in Beijing boosted national morale. Given the scale of issues like global warming and epidemic disease, we shouldn't underestimate the importance of a can-do attitude to science rather than a can't-afford-it attitude. Just as the Apollo programme was an overall boost to the US in the 1960s, it's in our interests today – and the world's – for the UK to raise the profile and priority of science and technology across the broadest possible front.