Science and Technology for America's Progress Ensuring the Best Presidential Appointments in the New Administration (2008) / Chapter Skim
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Introduction
Introduction
Pages 7-12
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From page 7... ...
Rarely has there been such an opportunity for the nation's S&T enterprise to contribute to the nation. The nation needs exceptionally able scientists and engineers in top executive positions and on federal advisory committees to weigh available data; to consider the advice of scientists and technical specialists; and in the case of presidential appointees, to make key management, programmatic, and policy decisions.
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From page 8... ...
Today, much of everyday life in the United States and other indus trialized nations, as evidenced in transportation, communi cation, agriculture, education, health, defense, and jobs, is the product of investments in research and in the education of scientists and engineers.2 The relationship between science and technology, on the one hand, and the ability of the nation to meet economic and social goals on the other hand, is now clear from the American experience and that of other high-achievement countries. This is reinforced not only by reports of the National Academies, but also through the valuable work of other organizations such as the Council on Competitiveness.3 For example, a central theme in all of these analyses is the key role of strengthening education in science, technology, engi neering, and mathematics (STEM)
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From page 9... ...
Amidst this powerful force for change, the challenge for government is to recognize when S&T expertise is needed and to find the best means of managing S&T and incorporating it into government programs and policies.4 Our most critical asset in meeting this goal is our intellectual capital -- the hundreds of thousands of highly trained and expert scientists, engineers, and health professionals who work with what is known in the world of S&T and recognize what is not known. At no other time in the past 50 years has it been so vital to attract people who understand science and engineering into the highest levels of public service, as presidential appointees in top leadership positions or as members of the many advisory committees that provide scientific and technical advice to executive branch agencies.
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From page 10... ...
In addition to presidential appointments, the government often calls on outside scientists and engineers to provide objective independent advice on matters ranging from research funding prior ities and awards to strategic planning for entire segments of federal investment in research. Nongovernmental scientists and engineers are asked to serve in an advisory capacity on committees consider ing policy issues that have critical S&T components, for example, setting priorities for biodefense capabilities, establishing drinking water standards, and conducting drug approvals.
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From page 11... ...
The database maintained by the General Services Administration for federal advisory committees includes more than 150 committees under the heading of "applied sciences" and 65 committees that include "mathematics" in their mandates. The government's capacity to perform these functions could be seriously impaired by increasing the difficulty of recruiting people to those positions or by fostering the perception that the composition of advisory committees is being intentionally skewed to achieve a predetermined outcome.
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From page 12... ...
Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Com mittee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy.
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