to be honest my view is that the change happened when funding...

to be honest my view is that the change happened when funding models for science changed during the 80s/90s. I could go into detail but it’s a matter of historical record what that change was. It drove behaviour that tended to be more politically aligned and “topic of the moment” We stopped funding of what was once called pure research - which fed step change improvements- and we sought more immediate benefits.

some of the changes were necessary- scientists down rabbit holes and worse abounded but I suspect we threw the baby out with the bath water.