President Barack Obama has pledged to restore the United States’ primacy in scientific research. His bold plan echoes the decision made by U.S. leaders half a century ago to invest in basic science and applied research to meet the challenges posed by the Soviet Union’s successful launch of Sputnik. That resolve proved a long-term boon to the nation. Mr. Obama’s renewed commitment to science should produce similarly positive results now.
The president’s wide-ranging proposals, announced at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Science, should alter the blueprint of the nation’s scientific community. The heart of the plan is an initiative to expand the number of trained math and science teachers. That’s essential if the United States is to regain its position atop the global scientific community.
Mr. Obama reminded meeting attendees of two sad facts. The nation faces a shortfall of about 300,000 math and science teachers by 2015. Math and science scores of United States students continue to decline. Once consistently the best or among the best in the world, U.S. math and science students now are regularly outscored by students from many nations. Given the circumstances, that’s hardly surprising.
It is difficult to produce top-notch scientists, mathematicians and researchers if fundamentals are not taught at an early age. The Obama initiative to expand the pool of trained math and science teachers addresses that issue in an authoritative manner. A program included in the economic stimulus package creates an incentive-based fund for states that do the most to increase the number of certified math and science teachers in grade and secondary schools.
Other parts of the broad initiative outlined by the president will use federal funds to promote basic and applied research, to create incentives for scientific innovation, to promote breakthroughs in energy, especially renewable energy, to advance medicine and health care, and to support creation and operation of state-of-the-art public and private laboratories. It is, taken as a whole, an ambitious and well-crafted agenda that promotes study in all realms of science without qualification.
That’s a sharp contrast to the policies of the previous administration. The Bush White House infamously used, or suppressed, science to promote its own agenda and to placate its conservative supporters. Bush apologists are quick to argue that’s not the case, but there’s ample evidence to support charges to the contrary.
For years, Bush administration officials argued that science had failed to make the case that global warming was a fact. And when scientists on the government payroll attempted to go public to debunk that talk, they were muzzled.
In addition, though physicians and scientists testified to the safety and efficiency of the so-called Plan B morning-after pill, administration operatives used spurious fact and political cant to delay widespread availability of the drug. Science, in the view of the Bush administration, was simply a political tool rather than an engine that could promote progress and improve lives.
Mr. Obama obviously views science in a far more objective and insightful manner. He reminded academy members and the nation that the investments spurred by a desire to compete effectively in space prompted decades of scientific success and economic growth in the United States.
His administration’s renewed commitment to science, he promised, “will fuel our success for another 50 years. We will not just meet, but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the space race ... ,” adding that he hopes to restore science “to its rightful place” in the United States. That is a salutary national goal.
While the president made a clear and strong case for substantial investments in science and related fields, he did add an important caveat. “The largest commitment to scientific research and innovation in American history,” he said, will be useless if it is not accompanied by a parallel commitment by a new generation of young people willing “to create, build and invent — to be makers of things, not just consumers of things.”
Mr. Obama’s insistence that science deserves better treatment from the federal government and his desire to provide funding without strings attached is refreshing. His stirring call to action comes with an important message, though. Investment in science and research without clearly defined goals and a uniform desire to meet them will produce little return.
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as long as we continue to allow religious zealots to lobby government, science will be sandbagged. The religious right has been waging a war on science since frickin' Copernicus and Galileo. It's gotten so bad in this country that even though we have 300 million people in the U.S., we don't have enough smart people to be all of our doctors, engineers, researchers, physicists, etc. We have to import people from third world countries like India, Iran, and Pakistan to be our doctors and scientists. It's ironic that the same religious wackos who hate foreigners and want them all kicked out are the same ones that sandbag education so much that we have to import foreigners.
cave_demon-- you have to keep the country dumbed down so they will listen to and believe all the stuff talk radio spews out. You know, things like "weapons of mass destruction", "keep the enemy from following us home", "Obama is not really a citizen", "Obama is going to take all the guns away", "tax cuts for the wealthy creates jobs",etc.
cave-demon says,
"as long as we continue to allow religious zealots to lobby government"
Oh, you mean like the WWF and their absurd notion that the polar bears are all dying, or the grand profit(sic)Al Gore's assertions that the icecaps will disappear in 5 years. Or were you talking about the alternative energy gurus who want to price fossil fuels out of the average persons reach to be replaced with fantasies of free solar and wind power for everyone.
Now, as for dumbing down the education system in this country, exactly who controls that system? Oh I know, It is those whacky right-wing conservative teachers/administrators/professors/unions who are leading the kids away from the socialist/statist/progressive ideas that have always worked so well in the past. Yeah, that's the ticket!
Any time an article mentions scientist being "muzzled" by the Bush White house, the writer looses all credibility, as the person who was complaining of being muzzled "James Hansen" was doing interviews all over the place to say he wasn't being allowed to speak. Please!
T=ss² (The Theory of Nonconformity)
www.freedomjournalpress.com
Greetings Brethren,
Editors Note: We bear witness that there is more to see, hear, feel and touch than what most believe to be written. Spiritual Science encompasses all other disciplines. As God the Creator sent all realms of knowledge His sages see this and write of this. However there will never be a day when all will see this but there will be a time of great testimony at the Last and Final Day. Although in vain the lost without the zeal of previous service denied their servant status but as the confirmed destiny is reached all will hail the Prince of Peace.
The world still struggles in a great debate regarding Truth. Thus we see “The Methodology For Obtaining Truth” and the Spiritual Scientist. Can we gain higher ground as we look for a better view of Truth? Thus Truth equals Spiritual Science squared. However the basic underpinnings of this equation rest in the principle of nonconformity.
A nonconformist is a person who does not conform to the established church. He is also a person who does not conform to a generally accepted thought or action. He refuses to accept the established conventions of the social group to which he belongs: “Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist” so said Emerson.
There Is Limited Truth Without God
We come boldly proclaiming that the greatest outlook
is through spiritual eyes. Hence a great theory is
born and established. This man saw not the ways
that are pagan often evil of the world.
He also vowed not to compromise his principles
and his independence to think for a job, bread or
butter. He saw no favor in joining any group no matter
what prestige or fortune it brought if it called on him,
To become not a creative artist but a robot a clone and clowning puppet only told, commanded and programmed what to do. Never in this mode could he cause anything into being for the first time. When the Arts die so does man.
Thus he would never paint the Rainbow as the group saw it and not in his own eyes that saw it as he dreamed. Political aspirations chosen are appointed saw those that laid principles, values aside as votes were more important.
Independence broke the back of tradition and custom. As a man called to please Jesus he frowned on the man
pleasers. However in the church is where the greatest nonconformity should take place.
Sadly the preachers that conformed to the world spoke not for God. He clearly found this to be a great abomination.
But who had the courage to stand up against the established culpables
in the Church? He then saw Jesus standing, so was John the Baptist.
All the Great Apostles and Prophets passed by his eyes and lips. However they lingered in mind as he digested their tenure and he gained from what they were inspired by Almighty God to render to the lost and found brethren. Just where is the remnant?