My uncle is a scientist - information which I usually don't divulge on public forums - he agreed with your statement:


SNIP
>I don't know the effect of the religious on scientific research in your neck of the woods, but here it's put us further behind other nations then we should. From scientists I know, our nation has lost our leadership way.
>Many foreign scientists who used to come here to conduct their research now find other nations that are more open for them.


However, he also stated that that is only the case for limited fields of research which are in conflict the orthodox religious views. In all other areas, he thought the U.S. was still leading the rest of the world in scientific research and innovation. He said we spend more on research and development than any other country and have the best scientific research facilities and universities.

He thought the trend for some types of research to shift overseas was a portend of that declining though.