Federal Update 3
April 28, 2009
CONGRESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Investing in Science
In a remarkable speech before the National Academies of Sciences this week, President Obama affirmed his commitment to science by announcing several initiatives designed to reinvigorate the U.S. scientific enterprise.
In his remarks, the President outlined several steps that will be taken to advance his science and technology agenda. These include:
- Devoting more than three percent (3 percent) of our GDP to research and development;
- Making the science and experimentation tax credit permanent;
- Completing a 10-year doubling of support for key science agencies (National Science Foundation, DOE Office of Science, and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology);
- Creating a joint initiative by the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation that will inspire tens of thousands of American students to pursue careers in science, engineering and entrepreneurship related to clean energy -- with programs and scholarships from grade school to graduate school.
Additionally, President Obama has given the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) an expanded responsibility to ensure federal policies are based on unbiased scientific information and not ideological rationale. President McRobbie met with the Director of OSTP, John Holdren, earlier this month and discussed the importance of scientific integrity to restoring our leadership in science and innovation.
The reprioritization of science, in response to the complex set of challenges facing the nation and the world, will provide enormous opportunity for university leadership in discovery and innovation.
