jila - center for science and technology policy...

JILA

UCCS

Past Science Advisors

Early Science AdvisorsEd David

NixonJay Keyworth

Reagan

Allan BromleyGHW Bush

Jack GibbonsClinton

Jack MarburgerGW Bush

Frank PressCarter

NealClinton

Threats to the future of U.S. Science Threats to the future of U.S. Science and Technologyand Technology

The University of ColoradoThe University of ColoradoBoulder, COBoulder, CO

October 5, 2005October 5, 2005Neal LaneNeal Lane

James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyJames A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyDepartment of Physics and AstronomyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy

Rice UniversityRice University

OUTLINE

• A personal journey• How the White House works• Four “threats” to science and technology

and what a Science Advisor can do!

Neal’s parking place

President’s parking place

Oval Office Oval Office

““Neal, Neal, howhow much did you say we need to spend on nanotechnology?”much did you say we need to spend on nanotechnology?”

It’s a team effort !

NationalAeronautic and Space

Administration

EnvironmentalProtection

Agency

Smithsonian Institution

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Other agencies

Commerce

Science Advisor

Other boards, councils, etc.

U.S. President

Independent Agencies

Major Departments

Science AdvisorOffice of Science and

Technology Policy

Office of Managementand Budget

Agriculture Health and Human Services

Interior Transportation Defense Energy

NSF-36

The Executive Branch

NIH USGSNOAANIST

Homeland Security

DARPA, ONR,AFOSR

NSTC

NNSA

with R&D agencies

Science and Technology in the U.S. GovernmentScience and Technology in the U.S. Government


Administration


Agency



Other agencies

Commerce

Science Advisor


U.S. President


Major Departments


Technology Policy




NSF-36

NIH USGSNOAANIST

Homeland Security

DARPA, ONR,AFOSR

NSTC

NNSA

Science and Technologyare important to most Federal

Agencies The Executive Branch

with R&D agencies

Examples of Public Policy Issues that Relate Examples of Public Policy Issues that Relate to Science and Technologyto Science and Technology

Advances in science, engineering, and technology (Advances in science, engineering, and technology (R&D budgetR&D budget))Emerging technologies Emerging technologies -- National National NanotechnologNanotechnology Initiativey InitiativeEnergyEnergy production and consumptionproduction and consumptionNational and Homeland National and Homeland securitysecurity and counterand counter--terrorismterrorismEnvironmentEnvironment –– air/water, climate change, cleanair/water, climate change, clean--upupStorage of spent Storage of spent nuclearnuclear fuel and high level radioactive wastefuel and high level radioactive wasteInformation technologyInformation technology, computing, internet , computing, internet HealthHealth –– Human genome, proteomics, cloning, stem cells, AIDSHuman genome, proteomics, cloning, stem cells, AIDSInternational cooperationInternational cooperation in S&T (e,g, Carnegie Gin S&T (e,g, Carnegie G--8 meetings)8 meetings)EducationEducation and the technical workforceand the technical workforceSpaceSpace programprogramFoodFood safety, plant biotechnology (safety, plant biotechnology (GMO’sGMO’s))Policy onPolicy on research misconductresearch misconductSurprises !Surprises !


Administration


Agency



Other agencies

Commerce

Science Advisor


U.S. President


Major Departments


Technology Policy




NSF-36

NIH USGSNOAANIST

Homeland Security

DARPA, ONR,AFOSR

NSTC

NNSA


Agencies

One job of the Science Advisoris to coordinate S&T activities

across federal governmentwith R&D agencies



Administration


Agency



Other agencies

Commerce

Science Advisor


U.S. President


Major Departments


Technology Policy




NSF-36

NIH USGSNOAANIST

Homeland Security

DARPA, ONR,AFOSR

NSTC

NNSA


Agencies

One job of the Science Advisoris to coordinate S&T activities

across federal governmentwith R&D agencies


Including the White House

Domestic Policy CouncilNational Economic CouncilNational Security CouncilCouncil on Environmental QualityOffice of Management and BudgetOffice of Vice President


Administration


Agency



Other agencies

Commerce

Science Advisor


U.S. President


Major Departments


Technology Policy




NSF-36

NIH USGSNOAANIST

Homeland Security

DARPA, ONR,AFOSR

NSTC

NNSA

with R&D agencies


Lobbyists

Industry

SpecialInterests

Consumers

SpecialInterests

Media

Media

Media

Industry

Lobbyists

Lobbyists

Consumers

Industry

SpecialInterests

ConsumersIndustry

Universities

Science Disciplines

Science and EngineeringSocieties

NGOs

NGOs

NGOs

Lots of voices !

OUTLINE

• A personal journey• How the White House works• Four “threats” to science and technology

and what a Science Advisor can do!

FOUR THREATS TO U.S. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYFOUR THREATS TO U.S. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

•MONEY TO FUND SCIENCE

•PEOPLE TO DO SCIENCE

•PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE

•RESPECT FOR THE INTEGRITY OF SCIENCE

Research will get Squeezed in Future BudgetsResearch will get Squeezed in Future Budgets

XXXX

XXXX XX

$ 2. 6 trillion in FY06

$ 57 billion

$ 75 billion

(20% GDP)

(< 0.5 % GDP)

Outyear Outyear budget projections look grim!budget projections look grim!

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Talented students have been comingfrom abroad to study science and engineering- but that trendmay not continue !

What Do the American People Know?What Do the American People Know?(from survey done for NSF’s “SE Indicators” *)(from survey done for NSF’s “SE Indicators” *)

Plants produce oxygenPlants produce oxygenContinents have been moving for millions of yearsContinents have been moving for millions of yearsLight travels faster than soundLight travels faster than soundEarth goes around the sunEarth goes around the sunNot all radioactivity is manmadeNot all radioactivity is manmade

Earliest humans did not live with the dinosaursEarliest humans did not live with the dinosaursEarth takes one year to go around the sunEarth takes one year to go around the sunElectrons are smaller than atomsElectrons are smaller than atomsAntibiotics do not kill virusesAntibiotics do not kill virusesLasers do not work by focusing sound wavesLasers do not work by focusing sound waves

>70%

50%

* From NSF (National Science Board) Science and Engineering Indicators 2002, chapt. 7

What Do the American People Believe?What Do the American People Believe?(from various polls reported in NSF’s “SE Indicators” *)(from various polls reported in NSF’s “SE Indicators” *)

Psychic or spiritual healing Psychic or spiritual healing -- mind over body ( > 50%)mind over body ( > 50%)ESP (50%)ESP (50%)Haunted houses (>40%)Haunted houses (>40%)Ghosts (40%)Ghosts (40%)ET visits ( >30%)ET visits ( >30%)Astrology is scientific or “sort of” (40%)Astrology is scientific or “sort of” (40%)Evolution in schools Evolution in schools

teach only evolution (20%)teach only evolution (20%)teach with creationism (> 45%)teach with creationism (> 45%)do not teach evolution at all (16%)do not teach evolution at all (16%)

* From NSF (National Science Board) Science and Engineering Indicators 2002, chapt. 7

} > 60%> 60%

A Statement – “Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policymaking”, calling attention to misrepresentation and misuse of science bysome in the current Administration, was signed by 62 scientists,including many Nobel Laureates.

“Science, like any field of endeavor, relies on freedom of inquiry; and one of the hallmarks of that freedom is objectivity. Now, more than ever, on issues ranging from climate change to AIDS research to genetic engineering to food additives, government relies on the impartial perspective of science for guidance.”

President George H.W. Bush, April 23, 1990

The integrity of U.S. science has always been non-partisan

RESPECT FOR THE INTEGRITY OF SCIENCE

But something has changed:




•PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE ?


Especially challenging in a postEspecially challenging in a post--9/11 world9/11 world

Einstein had advice for scientists:Einstein had advice for scientists:

“Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief “Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors…in order that the interest of all technical endeavors…in order that the creations of our mind shall be a blessing and not a curse creations of our mind shall be a blessing and not a curse to mankind. Never forget this in the midst of your to mankind. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.”diagrams and equations.”

(Albert Einstein, speech at Cal Tech, February 1931)(Albert Einstein, speech at Cal Tech, February 1931)

Einstein had advice for all of us:Einstein had advice for all of us:

“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created “Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.”by the individual who can labor in freedom.”

(Albert Einstein , commencement Address to the graduates of (Albert Einstein , commencement Address to the graduates of Swarthmore, 1938 and quoted in Swarthmore, 1938 and quoted in Out of My Later YearsOut of My Later Years , 1950), 1950)

Becomes a citizen of the United States -a true “Patriot Act”

Benjamin Franklin1706-1790

Three American “Civic Scientists”

Albert Einstein1879-1955

Allan Bromley1926-2005

Thank you !

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