The Foundation's 1987 (23rd) Annual Lecture In July 1987 the UK Government announced that it would in future be taking a more deliberate overview across the whole of Government-funded R&D. In the USA and the UK there has been a levelling off of research funding since 1973 and UK university departments are small making it difficult to maintain research strengths. An increase in funds is needed to maintain a healthy science base and we also need to learn how to manage the system without depending on continued growth. If the UK is to continue to be recognised worldwide for its academic research the Government must listen to the scientists' arguments and the research community must galvanise itself to reshape the science base.