IMHO, If a researcher can just "eat money" for years without getting the expected final result, then he will do so (Murphy's Law)

Friday, 1 November 2019. One asked me: "What is the economic efficiency of project and environmental benefits of such projects: "The West Virginia Water Research Institute at West Virginia University has been awarded $5 million by the U.S. Department of Energy to continue Rare Earth Recovery Project, Build Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Facility"?"

I replied: "This project is unprofitable. Ecological benefit is very doubtful.
I very responsibly studied this issue for more than 10 years and defended my thesis doctoral on this issue in 2002." More

More than 2 years have passed. They've already spent $ 5 million and want more? The  West Virginia University received another $ 2.1 million because it was unable to complete these studies. Didn't they get positive results? Was I right again? 

IMHO, The fact is that it is unprofitable for a university, as a large social organism, to be especially prolific in science (research institute as well). He is fed by time. And the university is usually inclined to stretch time. More

If a researcher can just "eat money" for years without getting the expected final result, then he will do so (Murphy's Law). The increase in funding for research will only exacerbate this situation. More

 THEREFORE  WE ARE  DOING PERSONAL RESEARCH! More

Ph.D. Natalia Petrovskaya

 

 Reference

1. https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2019/10/01/wvu-awarded-5-million-to-continue-rare-earth-project-build-acid-mine-drainage-treatment-facility
2. https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2021/04/21/from-pollutant-to-resource-wvu-scientists-push-rare-earth-element-technologies-closer-to-production
3. http://beneficiation1.blogspot.com/2018/06/breakthrough-in-future-of-mining.html
4. https://gladiolus1.blogspot.com/2020/05/why-are-we-doing-personal-research.html
5. https://gladiolus1.blogspot.com/2019/11/this-project-is-unprofitable-ecological.html