Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future

Source	Report	Recommendation
Council on Competitiveness	Innovate America, 2004	Allocate at least 3% of the total DOD budget for defense science and technology; direct at least 20% of that amount to long-term, basic research; intensify support for the physical sciences and engineering
National Science Board	Fulfilling the Promise: A Report to Congress on the Budgetary and Programmatic Expansion of the National Science Foundation, NSB 2004-15	Fund NSF annually at $18.7 billion, including about $12.5 billion for R&D
NOTES: NSF, National Science Foundation; DOD, Department of Defense; NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology; DOE, Department of Energy.

Prepare students in American colleges and universities to become leaders who can extend the frontiers of knowledge and apply new concepts.
Attract the brightest young students both domestically and internationally.¹²

ACTION B-2:
EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS

The federal government should establish a program to provide 200 new research grants each year at $500,000 each, payable over 5 years, to support the work of outstanding early-career researchers. The grants would be funded by federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]) to underwrite new research opportunities at universities and government laboratories.

About 50,000 people hold postdoctoral appointments in the United States.¹³ Those early-career researchers are particularly important because they often are the forefront innovators. A report in the journal Science states

¹²	NAS/NAE/IOM. Science, Technology, and the Federal Government: National Goals for a New Era. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1993.
¹³	National Science Foundation. “WebCASPAR, Integrated Science and Engineering Data System.” Available at: http://www.casper.nsf.gov.

Table of Contents

Front Matter R1-R26

Executive Summary 1-22

1 A Disturbing Mosaic 23-40

2 Why Are Science and Technology Critical to America's Prosperity in the 21st Century? 41-67

3 How Is America Doing Now in Science and Technology? 68-106

4 Method 107-111

5 What Actions Should America Take in K–12 Science and Mathematics Education to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 112-135

6 What Actions Should America Take in Science and Engineering Research to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 136-161

7 What Actions Should America Take in Science and Engineering Higher Education to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 162-181

8 What Actions Should America Take in Economic and Technology Policy to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 182-203

9 What Might Life in the United States Be Like if It Is Not Competitive in Science and Technology? 204-224

Appendix A Committee and Professional Staff Biographic Information 225-240

Appendix B Statement of Task and Congressional Correspondence 241-248

Appendix C Focus-Group Sessions 249-300

Appendix D Issue Briefs 301-302

K–12 Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education 303-324

Attracting the Most Able US Students to Science and Engineering 325-341

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Education in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics 342-356

Implications of Changes in the Financing of Public Higher Education 357-376

International Students and Researchers in the United States 377-396

Achieving Balance and Adequacy in Federal Science and Technology Funding 397-414

The Productivity of Scientific and Technological Research 415-422

Investing in High-Risk and Breakthrough Research 423-431

Ensuring That the United States Is at the Forefront in Critical Fields of Science and Technology 432-443

Understanding Trends in Science and Technology Critical to US Prosperity 444-454

Ensuring That the United States Has the Best Environment for Innovation 455-472

Scientific Communication and Security 473-482

Science and Technology Issues in National and Homeland Security 483-500

Appendix E Estimated Recommendation Cost Tables 501-512

Appendix F K–12 Education Recommendations Supplementary Information 513-516

Appendix G Bibliography 517-536

Index 537-564

ACTION B-2:
EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS

Table of Contents

Front Matter R1-R26

Executive Summary 1-22

1 A Disturbing Mosaic 23-40

2 Why Are Science and Technology Critical to America's Prosperity in the 21st Century? 41-67

3 How Is America Doing Now in Science and Technology? 68-106

4 Method 107-111

5 What Actions Should America Take in K–12 Science and Mathematics Education to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 112-135

6 What Actions Should America Take in Science and Engineering Research to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 136-161

7 What Actions Should America Take in Science and Engineering Higher Education to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 162-181

8 What Actions Should America Take in Economic and Technology Policy to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? 182-203

9 What Might Life in the United States Be Like if It Is Not Competitive in Science and Technology? 204-224

Appendix A Committee and Professional Staff Biographic Information 225-240

Appendix B Statement of Task and Congressional Correspondence 241-248

Appendix C Focus-Group Sessions 249-300

Appendix D Issue Briefs 301-302

K–12 Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education 303-324

Attracting the Most Able US Students to Science and Engineering 325-341

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Education in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics 342-356

Implications of Changes in the Financing of Public Higher Education 357-376

International Students and Researchers in the United States 377-396

Achieving Balance and Adequacy in Federal Science and Technology Funding 397-414

The Productivity of Scientific and Technological Research 415-422

Investing in High-Risk and Breakthrough Research 423-431

Ensuring That the United States Is at the Forefront in Critical Fields of Science and Technology 432-443

Understanding Trends in Science and Technology Critical to US Prosperity 444-454

Ensuring That the United States Has the Best Environment for Innovation 455-472

Scientific Communication and Security 473-482

Science and Technology Issues in National and Homeland Security 483-500

Appendix E Estimated Recommendation Cost Tables 501-512

Appendix F K–12 Education Recommendations Supplementary Information 513-516

Appendix G Bibliography 517-536

Index 537-564

ACTION B-2:EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS

ACTION B-2:
EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS