President commits more than 3% of GDP to research & development
In a recent announcement, President Barack Obama reiterated his administration's focus on science by promising a new level of commitment—one that would have the same intensity and urgency as that which put Americans on the moon—and stressing that "the days of science taking a back seat to ideology are over."
"We have watched as scientific integrity has been undermined and scientific research politicized in an effort to advance predetermined ideological agendas," said Mr. Obama.
Speaking at the 146th National Academy of Science annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Mr. Obama pledged to raise spending on research and development to more than three percent of the nation's gross domestic product, an increase of approximately $46 billion annually. "This represents the largest commitment to scientific research and innovation in American history," said the President.
The federal share of the proposed increase on scientific research and development is in the ballpark of $15 billion — $15 billion that is no easy sell in today's tough economic climate.
The scientific commitment made by President Obama is particularly poignant when contrasted with a Bush administration that was often perceived as ignoring — and even altering — scientific findings that did not jive with political agendas [see: Bush Administration Just Says No to Science
"We have finally closed the books on the Bush era of climate denial once and for all," said Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, in a statement. "Science is allowed to lead and agencies like the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency are once again in the business of protecting the public and our planet," Pope said.
Much of President Obama's remarks centered on the role of math and science in developing a new ways to create and save energy, stressing that faith in scientific inquiry should be embraced, not shunned, in the face of difficult challenges like global climate change. "Our future on this planet depends on our willingness to address the challenge posed by carbon pollution," said Mr. Obama. "And our future as a nation depends upon our willingness to embrace this challenge as an opportunity to lead the world in pursuit of new discovery."
Finally funding for ARPA-E
The President also announced for the first time that the the government would be funding an initiative recommended by the NAS called the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E). Authorized by Congress in 2007, ARPA-E is modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which was created during the Eisenhower administration in response to Sputnik and charged throughout its history with conducting the kind of high-risk, high-reward research that produced the ARPANET (the precursor to the internet), stealth technology, and Global Positioning Systems.
Specifically, the aims of ARPA-E are to: enhance our economic security by identifying technologies with the potential to reduce energy imports from foreign sources; reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions; and improve efficiency across the energy spectrum.
President Obama said that to rise to the challenge of global climate change, the United States "will not just meet, but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the space race."
The executive commitment to scientific advancement made by President Obama has given the scientific community, broadly speaking, lots to cheer about. However, translating science into policy or regulatory action is often only as good as the institutional structures and linkages in which scientific findings are communicated and acted upon.
[Adapted from my piece originally published at Red, Green, and Blue. You can also follow me on twitter]
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That’s great. But it would be nice if they would research more in to things like climate change. I mean he said that “We have watched as scientific integrity has been undermined and scientific research politicized in an effort to advance predetermined ideological agendas,” and yet here he is pushing taxes through on the idea of climate change. Not saying that climate change isn’t real or anything but I think that anymore it’s become to hard to cut through the “politicized”bullshit surrounding it. I mean no one knows how far along climate change is or what the real causes are hell how we could even start to fix the climate if anything is wrong with it.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that there isn’t an exit plan to Mr Obama’s climate plan.
The President has sided with science on such topics as evolution, climate change, and stem cell research, which is fantastic. But these are all bugaboo’s of the Right. What about the sacred cows of the Left? Will he stand behind science-based medicine, or will he continue support for supplemental, complementary, and alternative medicine (SCAM?)
@ Josef
You are dead wrong. There is no point of researching climate change. By investing in research to “reduce energy imports from foreign sources; reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions; and improve efficiency across the energy spectrum” they are essentially trying to stretch what remaining resources are left. These initiatives are needed regardless if climate change is real or not real. Use your head.
Finally we have a president who focuses on science and research but not god.
Dustin, that is absurd.
There is every reason in the world to study climate change to actually understand it, how it affects the biosphere, and how it affects humanity. With our knowledge, we can adjust our ways of living, to better adapt to the stress that our biosphere has taken during our time here on this planet.
That, is the sort of research that should be done with climate change. I have faith in the Obama administration that we may actually progress somewhere in four years, after eight years of stagnation.
I agree; we should be trying to research climate change when we can spend that same money on making changes that would help curb climate change if indeed Man is affecting the climate. we dont need to wait ten years down the line to find out the Mankind is affecting the client only to find out we are ten years too late in dealing with it.
Being more efficient with our resources will reduce emissions, yes but it will also make us more secure since we would rely less on foreign energy from questionable countries. It’ll keep us safe by not having to interfere in other parts of the World because of the affect on our foreign oil supply. Less Wars of that nature and we’ll see less aggression towards the U.S. ten to twenty years down the line.
It is such a relief to see this country get on track with using science to help build a better future, but the question remains – is it too little and too late – time will tell, but there is so much work that must be done to reverse the damage caused during the past eight years of neglect.
Here is a funny fact NIH is funded from the same bucket as welfare. That is why the Dems love to say we are putting more money in the science bucket. Bet none of you knew that. And there is no true science proving Global warming. Look into Richard Lindzen one of the top atmospheric physicist in the world or you can watch one movie and think you know it all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McsZ1U20W0M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz8KiA-YMt8
He might make you proud but the other 75% of the country thinks he is bad. Do you live in under a rock or something or do you just feel like arguing tonight??
glad to hear the US is thinking about climate change and saving the planet, unfortunately here in the uk government talk about it and decide its either too expensive to fund or the british public can fund it in the middle of a recession. one of the most important things to fund, maybe obama can talk some sense into the british politicians.