[wanderingmind]

While the goal of theoretical physics is to have a reductionist approach to understanding reality, it looks like most of this is being spent on sub-nuclear particle physics and extreme astronomical situations. There are many real life situations that can be explained and understood better with branches of theoretical physics such as dynamical systems, condensed matter, statistical physics and others. There needs more funding so more people can solve problems that are of direct societal interest which in turn can attract more funding and students.