Because Quote by Heidi Hammel

“Because exploration is not science driven, you've got to ask what is it driven by? And it's driven by politics.”

Heidi Hammel

About This Quote

Source Interview: Politics of Exploration, 2021

Exploration is driven by political agendas more than pure science, shaping goals and funding.

In simple terms: Exploration often serves political aims.

Key Takeaway

Recognize political motives in scientific pursuits.

Themes

politics exploration science policy agenda setting

Mood

analytical critical

Type

observational cautionary

When to use this quote

space missions
polar research
funding proposals
policy debates

Key Concepts

geopolitics research funding national interest

Questions to Reflect On

What political factors influence current research?
How can scientists maintain integrity?

A Different Perspective

Science can still be curiosity‑driven despite politics.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.4 out of 5 (7 ratings)

Ask Driven Because Driven Politics Exploration Exploration Science Politics Science Science Driven Travel

More by Heidi Hammel

Even after years of observing, a new picture of Uranus from Keck Observatory can stop me in my tracks and make me say, 'Wow!'

Heidi Hammel

Image

When I first heard that a comet was going to hit Jupiter, my reaction was, 'Eh. So what? Jupiter's huge. Comets are small. And…

Heidi Hammel

Image

There are amateurs who have seen that one of Uranus' poles is brighter than the other, or who have seen cloud formations on the…

Heidi Hammel

Image

I would say the biggest challenge I had as a woman in science is be a mom. It's really hard. It's very hard work…

Heidi Hammel

Image

No one planet can tell us everything about the universe, but Neptune seems to hold more than its share of information about the formation…

Heidi Hammel

Image

The thing about telescopes is that the mirror is the main component. Once that's built, you don't need to build new ones; you just…

Heidi Hammel

Image

I don't think I could advocate for increasing NASA's budget by a factor of two or ten, because I want us to have good…

Heidi Hammel

Image

Whatever I was going into, whether it was going to be chorus or history or astronomy or whatever, do it right. Be a professional.…

Heidi Hammel

Image

By monitoring auroral activity on exoplanets, we may be able to infer the presence of water on or within an exoplanet.

Heidi Hammel

Image

We thought of Uranus's atmosphere as pretty much dead. And it's not.

Heidi Hammel

Image

I think the only way that the U.S. human spaceflight program is going to get really revitalized, really put sort of an Apollo level…

Heidi Hammel

Image

Together, NASA and Hubble are opening new vistas on the universe.

Heidi Hammel

Image

Explore all 72 Heidi Hammel quotes

More Because quotes

One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.

Marcel Duchamp

Image

I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.

Alice Walker

Image

Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…

Rajneesh

Image

I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…

David S. Goyer

Image

There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…

Daniel Caesar

Image

It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…

Elmore Leonard

Image

I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.

Tom Perrotta

Image

I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…

Neil Peart

Image

It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.

Samuel Barnett