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Nature 446, 714 (12 April 2007) | doi:10.1038/446714a; Published online 11 April 2007

Open Innovation Challenges

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Party of One Back to school

David Goldston1

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The US National Science Foundation may soon have to supply lab equipment to poverty-stricken high schools. David Goldston explains why some politicians want the agency to pay for Bunsen burners and test-tubes.

On 28 March, the House Committee on Science and Technology approved a measure that would put the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the business of equipping science laboratories in high schools that serve poor students.Buying better high-school lab equipment is certainly a worthy goal and perhaps a legitimate use of federal money.