[BrentRitterbeck]

There are people with strong scientific, mathematical, and technological backgrounds working in the FIRE space. This is directly the result of a lack of funding for traditional science. FIRE didn't take people from traditional science. FIRE absorbed scientifically-inclined people who otherwise wouldn't have a place to put their background to use.

Fund traditional science more, and the prestige will come back. Traditional scientific research is expensive.

EDIT: Here's a recent link (a few months ago) that illustrates my point:

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-tevatron-is-shutting-down...