Where's the Industrial Research?

How come NASA is sending up undergrad research projects and projects
from a 6th grade class?

Is there no better science that can be conducted?

Not to take away anything from science inclined undergrads, but I
would expect more sophisticated scientific inquiries from the
graduate divisions of Universities, the faculty and from scientists
at commercial firms.

Is there so much slack in the system that P.R. science flights have
to be booked to fill the slots?

Undergrads Ready For Launch
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-03y.html

TangoMan