Many more people are studying science than can actually hope to find jobs in the field.

The real problem is not a scarcity of people, but a scarcity of _smart_ people. The average guy in the street will not improve his own life or anyone else's by the study of science. Posts for lab technicians are easy enough to fill, after all.

Conversely, the people who really can make a difference by and large do not need any encouragement.

On a practical note, I would be very interested in a discussion of the best ways an individual can make a monetary / political / social contribution to the development of an AGI. Assuming this has already been argued out, does anyone have a link?