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Capitol Hill Quarterly

www.aps.org /publications/capitolhillquarterly/index.cfm FEBRUARY 2012 VOLUME 7, NO. 1

APS Commends President Obama’s Burton Richter and Win Presidential Proposed Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Award for Scientific Achievement By Tawanda W. Johnson their co-discovery of a subatomic technology that resulted in discov- Under fiscal restraint, President’s budget ensures The American Physical Society particle known as the J/psi. It pro- eries in particles physics and laid (APS) congratulates Nobel Laure- vided evidence that Gell-mann & the groundwork for advances in scientists continue transformational research, ate and SLAC Director Emeritus Zweig’s theory about – fun- photon science. He has also been leading to innovation and jobs for Americans Burton Richter and Mildred Dres- a formidable leader in the science selhaus, MIT Professor Emerita policy arena, including chairing of Physics and Electrical Engi- the committee that developed the The American Physical Soci- Even within the science agencies, neering and Computer Science, APS Energy Efficiency report. He ety (APS) commends President important programs have been cut on being named winners of the recently released a book titled, Obama’s Fiscal Year 2013 bud- significantly, including those in for scientific “Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Cli- get, which prioritizes scientific domestic fusion research, nucle- achievement. mate Change and Energy in the research, spurs innovation and ar physics and particle physics. The presidential award car- 21st Century.” keeps the nation on a path toward Those cuts will be very painful to ries an honorarium of $50,000, Dresselhaus received a B.A. economic prosperity. the affected segments of the phys- shared equally, and a gold medal. from Hunter College in 1951; an APS is pleased that, in general, ics community. The U.S. Department of Energy Burton Richter M.A. from Radcliffe College in the President’s budget reflects the There is no question, how- administers the award on behalf 1953; and a Ph.D. in 1958 from priorities of key scientific agen- ever, that if the U.S. is to “build of the White House. It is one of the University of Chicago. Her cies that are crucial to our na- an economy that can last,” the the government’s oldest and most research portfolio includes dis- tion’s future competitiveness – the country must focus on scientific prestigious awards for scientific coveries leading to the fundamen- Department of Energy’s Office research, education and innova- achievement. tal understanding of various con- “Dr. Richter and Dr. Dressel- of Science, the National Science tion – a proven strategy leading densed matter systems, including Foundation and the National Insti- to job creation and sustained eco- haus have both demonstrated ex- graphite, fullerenes and carbon tute of Standards and Technology. nomic growth. “The President’s ceptional scientific research and nanotubes. She has also served in Scientists who receive funding proposed science spending plan leadership throughout their illus- many scientific leadership roles, from these agencies are engaged recognizes the need for enhancing trious careers, contributing to our including as President of APS, in research that will generate solu- revenues to help reduce the defi- nation in myriad positive ways. Director of the Department of tions to the country’s most press- cit. It recognizes that science has We are honored to count them Mildred Dresselhaus ing challenges, including develop- provided the basis for the major- both as distinguished members Energy’s and ing technologies that will generate ity of U.S. economic growth for and former Presidents of APS,” damental building blocks of matter President of the American Associ- new, clean energy for all Ameri- more than half a century, and it is said Kate Kirby, APS Executive – was incomplete, leading to the ation for the Advancement of Sci- cans. the path we must follow to secure Officer. Standard Model. Richter provided ence. Additionally, Dresselhaus is APS recognizes that the Presi- the future solvency of our nation Richter earned a B.S. in 1952 leadership at SLAC National Ac- widely recognized for her unwav- dent had to make tough choices and to build a better America,” and Ph.D. in 1956, both from MIT. celerator Laboratory, from 1984 ering commitment to mentoring at a time when the nation is con- said Michael S. Lubell, Director In 1976, he shared the to 1999, where he helped lead ad- students and promoting gender fronted with mounting deficits. of Public Affairs for APS. in physics with Samuel Ting for vances in accelerator science and equity.

APS Officials Clarify Peer Review Process APS Applauds PCAST Report Calling Contrary to popular belief, peer review process isn’t free for Improving Science Education The following letter was re- printed with permission by The The American Physical So- Teachers and the American Astro- New York Times, which pub- ciety applauds the recent report nomical Society. lished it on Jan. 23, 2012. The from the President’s Council of writers are, respectively, Editor Advisors on Science and Technol- in Chief and Treasurer-Publish- ogy (PCAST), “Engage to Excel: er of the American Physical So- Producing One Million Additional ciety. College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineer- Scholarly publishing relies ing, and Mathematics.” The report on peer review to validate and advocates for improving science improve papers before publica- education to address the work- tion, and peer review depends force needs of the in crucially on scientists’ willing- the 21st Century. ness to provide expert advice “This report identifies the criti- without charge. cal juncture where we lose many Nevertheless, Michael B. talented students who intend to Eisen’s implication [New York study science as undergraduates – Times, Jan. 10, 2012] that the the introductory courses – and also peer review process is essen- points out that recent and well- tially free is not correct. The documented advances in educa- management of the peer review tion research have provided clear process for our 10 large jour- paths to improving this situation,” nals requires 50 full-time pro- said APS Director of Education review process and to publish the library. The Library of Con- fessional editors with a Ph.D. in and Diversity, Theodore Hodapp. excellent journals that serve the gress was the first of some 500 physics, and they must be com- The physics education re- worldwide scientific communi- libraries to join this program. pensated. search community has long been Capitol Hill Quarterly ty. We also have three journals We need to sell low-cost sub- Scientific societies play an involved in foundational research whose costs are explicitly paid is a publication of the scriptions to pay for the peer important role as low-cost pub- that has led to a wide variety of for by article-processing charg- American Physical Society, lishers. Although we do not sup- methods that increase access to, es, and these journals are open www.aps.org. APS is a port the Research Works Act, engage all students in, and im- access and freely available. On the Back Page we know that the costs of the prove the outcomes of our intro- non-partisan, professional The American Physical Soci- U.S. Rep. Chaka peer review process are not neg- ductory courses. society of ety feels strongly that the public Fattah discusses ligible and must be supported APS is mentioned particularly with more than 48,000 should have access to all of the link between either by subscriptions or article for its role in helping to transform physics research that we pub- members. research and the charges. physics education through the economy. lish. We allow public libraries New Faculty Workshops, which GENE D. SPROUSE access to every paper we have are operated jointly with the JOSEPH W. SERENE ever published, beginning in American Association of Physics 1893, for free use by anyone in Ridge, N.Y. 2 February 2012 APS Capitol Hill Quarterly TM

APS Members in the Media What’s New in Innovation?

The Washington A Step Toward Artificial Photosynthesis Post EFRC researchers construct an artificial version of a bacterium’s “In science we like surprises. “Magnetic materials are ex- light-absorbing ‘antenna’ We like big surprises. This one is tremely useful and strategically too big to be true…We really like important to many major econo- By Diana Lutz the deep ocean. things that rock the boat and turn mies, but there aren’t that many Dewey Holten, professor of chemistry at us in a new direction, but this one of them… To make a brand new Sometimes when people talk about solar en- Washington University, and collaborator Chris- turns the boat upside down and material is very intriguing and ergy, they tacitly assume that we’re stuck with tine Kirmaier, research professor of chemistry, fills it with water.” scientifically very important.” some version of the silicon solar cell and its are part of a team that is trying to make synthetic Michael Turner, (IL-1st) Uni- Shan X. Wang, (CA-14th) technical and cost limitations. chlorosomes. Holten and Kirmaier use ultra-fast versity of Chicago, on faster than , on a new 12- Not so. laser spectroscopy and other analytic techniques light neutrinos, The Washington atom nanomaterial used to store The invention of the solar cell, in 1941, was to follow the rapid-fire energy transfers in photo- Post, November 14, 2011. digital information, The New inspired by a newfound understanding of semi- synthesis. The team’s results are described in the York Times, January 12, 2012. conductors, materials that can use light energy to New Journal of Chemistry. ultimately create an electrical current. Silicon solar cells have little in common with the biological photosystems in tree leaves and The New York Times CNN.com pond scum that use light energy to ultimately “Our goal instead is to develop create sugars and other organic molecules. fundamental understanding so At the time, nobody understood these com- “If you do this with two at- “First, you have to understand plex assemblages of proteins and pigments well that we can enable the next gen- oms, then they behave more like the size and scope of this problem. enough to exploit their secrets for the design of eration of more efficient solar- a quantum mechanical object... The debris field from this Japa- solar cells. powered devices.” This is why science is interested nese tragedy is the size of the state But things have changed. in this work more than the tech- of California.” At Washington University in St. Louis’s Pho- nology.” Michio Kaku, (NY-15th) City tosynthetic Antenna Research Center (PARC), Andreas Heinrich, (CA-11th) College of New York, on debris scientists are exploring biological photosystems Next Steps IBM, on a new 12-atom nano- that washed up on the west coast to build both hybrids that combine natural and Although this project focused on self-assem- material used to store digital in- of the United States, purportedly synthetic parts as well as fully synthetic versions bly, the PARC scientists have already taken the formation, The New York Times, left over from the Japanese tsu- of natural systems. PARC is one of 46 Energy next step toward a practical solar device. “With January 12, 2012. nami, CNN.com, December 29, Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) established Pratim Biswas, the Lucy and Stanley Lopata 2011. by the DOE Office of Science in 2009 at uni- Professor and Chair of the Department of En- versities, national laboratories, and other institu- ergy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering at tions around the nation to accelerate advanced Washington University, we’ve since demonstrat- basic research related to energy. ed that we can get the pigments to self-assemble The PARC team has just succeeded in making on surfaces, which is the next step in using them BBC NEWS The New York Times a crucial photosystem component – a light-har- to design solar devices,” said Holten. vesting antenna – from scratch. The new antenna “We’re not trying to make a more efficient so- is modeled on the chlorosome, or biological an- lar cell in the next six months,” Holten cautions. “El Gordo is at a distance “Physics is a true canary in tenna, found in green photosynthetic bacteria. “Our goal instead is to develop fundamental un- that corresponds to a distance of the mine, so to speak, of judging Chlorosomes are giant assemblies of pigment derstanding so that we can enable the next gen- about seven billion light years– America’s capabilities in terms molecules. Perhaps nature’s most spectacular eration of more efficient solar powered devices.” we’re looking at it at a time that of science…If you let physics light-harvesting antennae, they allow green bac- As biological knowledge has exploded in the the universe was only half as old go, it’s symptomatic of the fact teria to photosynthesize even in the dim light of past 50 years, mimicking nature has become as it is now, when structure was that something has eroded in the a smarter, more realistic strategy. While bio- forming at a different rate…By intellectual capacity of academic mimicry hasn’t always worked as in the case looking at and understanding the institutions.” of designing early flying machines, biomimetic properties of El Gordo, we’re able Carlos Handy, (TX-18th) or biohybrid designs already have solved sig- to understand the time evolution Texas Southern University, on nificant engineering problems in other areas and of the structure formation of the proposed program cuts through- promise to greatly improve the design of solar- universe.” out the public universities of Tex- powered devices as well. Jack Hughes, (NM-3rd) Rut- as, The New York Times, Septem- After all, nature has had billions of years to gers University, on discovering ber 15, 2011. experiment with ways to harness the energy in the largest galaxy cluster ever sunlight for useful work. seen, dubbed El Gordo, BBC —Diana Lutz, Washington University in St. News, January 10, 2012. Louis, [email protected] Image courtesy of Martin Hohmann-Marriott and Robert Reprinted with permission by the U.S. De- Blankenship partment of Energy Office of Science Electron microscopic tomogram of dividing cells To read the entire article, go to: http://sci- of the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobaculum tepi- ence.energy.gov/stories-of-discovery-and-inno- dum, with chlorosomes rendered in simulated color vation/127025/.

APS Physics Capitol Hill Quarterly is published four times yearly by the Washington Office of the American Physical TM Capitol Hill Quarterly Society (APS). It contains news of the Society and of physics relevant to Capitol Hill as well as opinions. The APS Headquarters is located at One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Phone: (301) 209-3200. FEBRUARY 2012 • Series 2, Vol. 7, No. 1 • © 2012 The American Physical Society

APS Washington, D.C. Office APS COUNCIL 2012 Past-President on Education), TBA, (Forum on Graduate Staff Representatives 529 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20045 Barry C. Barish*, Caltech Student Affairs), Michael Riordan (Forum on His- Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy President Email: [email protected] Telephone: 202-662-8700 Fax: 202-662-8711 tory of Physics), TBA (Forum on Industrial and Flatten Director of International Affairs; Ted Robert L. Byer*, Stanford University General Councillors Haiyan Gao, Marta Dark McNeese, Nergis Applied Physics), Herman Winick* (Forum on Hodapp, Director of Education and Diversity; Mavalvala*, Warren Mori, Pierre Meystre, Jorge International Physics), TBA (Forum on Physics Michael Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; Dan College Park, MD President-Elect and Society), Anthony Johnson (Laser Science), Kulp, Editorial Director; Christine Giaccone, Michael S. Turner*, University of Chicago Pullin*, Keivan G. Stassun Editor Alan Chodos Ted Einstein (Materials), David McIntyre (North- Director, Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, International Councillor west Section), Wick Haxton* (Nuclear), Marjorie Controller and Assistant Treasurer Staff Science Writer Michael Lucibella Vice-President Art Director/Special Publications Manager Kerry G Johnson Annick Suzor-Weiner Corcoran* (Particles & Fields), John Galayda . Malcolm R. Beasley*, Stanford University Design and Production Nancy Bennett-Karasik Chair, Nominating Committee (Physics of Beams), Vincent Chan (Plasma), Administrator for Governing Committees Lars Bildsten Scott Milner (Polymer Physics), Bruce Barrett (4 Ken Cole Executive Officer Corners Section) Washington, D.C. Kate P. Kirby*, Harvard-Smithsonian (retired) Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Jill Dahlburg ADVISORS Director of Public Affairs Michael Lubell * Members of the APS Executive Board Treasurer/Publisher Representatives from Other Societies Associate Director of Public Affairs Francis Slakey Division, Forum and Section Councillors Joseph W. Serene*, Georgetown University Neil Cornish* (Astrophysics), Thomas Gal- Fred Dylla, AIP; David R. Sokoloff, AAPT Senior Government Relations Specialist Jodi Lieberman (Emeritus) Office Manager & POPA Studies lagher (Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics), International Advisors Administration Specialist Jeanette Russo Editor-in-Chief Mark Reeves (Biological), Nancy Levinger* Louis Felipe Rodriguez Jorge, Mexican Physical Grassroots Manager Brian Mosley Gene D. Sprouse*, Stony Brook University (on (Chemical), Francis Hellman (Condensed Matter Society; J. Michael Roney, Canadian Association Press Secretary Tawanda W. Johnson leave) Physics), Steven Gottlieb (Computational), James of Physicists Government Relations Specialist Tyler Glembo Wallace (Fluid Dynamics), Gay Stewart* (Forum TM APS Capitol Hill Quarterly February 2012 3

Mid-East Accelerator Getting Close to Completion By Michael Lucibella Much of the buildings, tunnels and stones were reported to have been SESAME, the long-awaited radiation shielding has been com- reached. being built in pleted, and the first parts of the ac- The accelerator’s 22 MeV the Middle East, seems poised to celerator have been installed. The electron pre-injector has reached enter its final stages of construc- accelerator itself is, in part, made full energy and been fully shield- tion. At SESAME’s recent council up of Germany’s decommissioned ed. Work to install the 800 MeV meeting in Turkey, two countries BESSY1 light source. booster synchrotron – contributed have signed on to help fill its bud- “SESAME is on track, and the from Germany – is under way, get gap, and two more are expect- project is very close to reaching an and plans for the outer storage agreement between five countries ed to contribute. In addition, the ring have been finalized. After all for $25 (million) of the $35 mil- organization reports that construc- funding is secured, the project can lion needed for completing con- tion on the accelerator has been order magnets and beam lines. moving forward and, provided the struction,” said Amy Flatten, APS Director of International Affairs, If funding from Turkey and necessary funding comes through, Egypt comes through by early it is on track to start up in 2015. who attended the council meeting. next year, Winick said the proj- The project’s name stands for Until recently, the consortium ect would be on track with its first Synchrotron-Light for Experi- had been facing a $35 million four working beam lines by 2015. mental Science and Applications deficit in the budget needed to in the Middle East. complete the project. However, “I think there is optimism,” “I’d say the outcome was very during the council meeting, com- Winick said, adding that despite good technical progress and en- mitments from several nations many delays, the project looks Courtesy of SESAME couraging news about funding, came through, along with pledges close to being able to move to- but nothing final,” said Sir Chris from others that will make up the Parts of the BESSY I 0.8 GeV booster synchrotron as they arrived from Ger- ward the next stages of construc- Llewellyn-Smith, of Oxford Uni- majority of the needed funds. Isra- many to be assembled at the SESAME facility tion. “SESAME is still hanging in el pledged that it would contribute versity, who is president of the that Israel is going along with was meeting, the country named there. We have a site and a build- $1 million per year for five years SESAME Council. this.” a new science adviser who will ing courtesy of Jordan.” UNESCO (United Nations if four other members contributed Funding from Turkey had been spearhead the process. To help prepare scientists in Educational, Scientific and Cul- funds as well. delayed after it was found that Palestine and Pakistan have the region, APS has teamed with tural Organization) is oversee- “As of the beginning of this its membership had not been for- also expressed interest in con- other national scientific societies ing SESAME to build a 2.5 meeting, Israel has been joined to send Middle Eastern physicists by Jordan and ,” said Her- mally approved by the country’s tributing funds and are currently GeV(gigaelectron volt) synchro- to training opportunities around man Winick, a research professor parliament. A bill authorizing working out their contributions. tron light source in Jordan. One the world. GeV is equal to a billion electron at SLAC National Acceleratory Turkey’s membership in SESA- The U.S. and the European “APS had started a travel pro- volts. Laboratory and a member of the ME has passed through relevant Union have supported the project gram to fund opportunities for When completed, SESAME Executive Committee of the APS parliamentary committees and is since its inception and will likely will be the first such particle ac- Forum on International Physics. awaiting approval from its Gen- contribute the remaining $10 mil- scientists in the Middle East to at- celerator in the Middle East. The He added that Turkey is close to eral Assembly. lion in funding that member na- tend training opportunities, users’ multinational coalition to build securing its contributions passed Egypt’s contributions have tions haven’t pledged. U.S. Rep. conferences, etc,” Flatten said. and run the facility is modeled af- by its parliament, and Egypt is been on hold because of the recent Rush Holt (D-NJ), a and “The efforts of APS and the other ter the governance of CERN and also likely to contribute funding. government changeover. The new APS member, has led the effort national scientific societies were features nations that have histori- Although only four instead of five interim government has expressed to urge U.S. State Department to recognized by several speakers for cally been rivals, such as Israel and countries have made firm pledges, interest in supporting the project, contribute to SESAME. initiating the program...We got a Iran, collaborating on the project. Winick said that “it is expected and while the SESAME Council Other advances and mile- lot of expressions of goodwill.”

Companies Pioneer New Nuclear Designs Based on R&D Data By Calla Cofield NuScale formed in 2007, but it OSU continued to support R&D in its pursuit of approval from the the work necessary to show that already had six years of research on the reactor design. By the NRC, because its design is based Two relatively new nuclear any given design is acceptable and development (R&D) data to time the company was officially on current light water reactors. companies, NuScale Power and for use in the United States,” said support its small reactor design. formed in 2007, the organization This may not be the case for com- TerraPower, are cooking up new Scott Burnell, a spokesperson for Lorenzini says the response to the had six years of strong R&D data panies working with more innova- reactor designs, and meeting new the NRC. Burnell says the com- design from all different branches to support the design. tive designs, such as the traveling challenges along the way. of the industry was overwhelm- It is possible that NuScale wave reactor (TWR) design by mission is working to expand its Modern light water reactors ingly positive. The cost could have sold the design to a TerraPower. knowledge base to keep up with generate, on average, 1,000 mega- of small reactors allevi- The TWR reactor re- more innovative designs on the watts (MW) of energy. Medium ated the growing cost of quires a small amount of horizon. But right now, the NRC reactors can dip down to 700 MW. large reactors, while also enriched uranium to start may not have the expertise to Ideas for smaller reactors have offering scalability – the the fission process, but evaluate all new technologies in always been around, but never option to add more mod- the majority of its fuel is made it past the drawing board, as the desired time frame. ules to one facility if the natural or depleted ura- “We have had conversations they seemed reasonable only for energy demands grew. nium 238: the most com- with vendors where we’ve said, small, isolated markets. But in the The NuScale design mon isotope of uranium ‘you’re going to need to do a lot late 2000s, the cost of large nu- is based on light water found in nature and a clear power plants began to grow reactor designs, but the waste product from the of work to beef up the support- unwieldy. Even large buyers were NuScale reactor units are production of LWR fuel. ing case for this particular tech- forced to make drastic financial only 45 megawatts. The Inside the TWR reac- nology,’” said Burnell. “It’s not bets on new reactors. So around reactor is scalable, and tor, uranium 238, which enough to simply run a computer 2009, the market changed its mind a single facility can host is not fissile and cannot model if you’re going to offer about small reactors. between one and 12 units. Nuclear atom support a chain reaction by some innovative feature. To some Paul Lorenzini is CEO of NuS- The reactor is cooled by itself, turns into plutonium extent, the NRC is going to have cale Power, which is aiming to natural circulation, so there are no larger nuclear company, but each 239, which is also used as fuel. to see real-world empirical data to have its first small modular reactor pumps or pipes, which can poten- meeting with a potential buyer This would mitigate the threat of say that that particular new feature (SMR) up and running by 2020. tially fail. The entire plant, includ- also revealed NuScale’s design to nuclear proliferation because the Close on NuScale’s heels is Bab- ing the containment, sits in a pool a potential competitor. Eventually, plutonium 239 is never separated is going to do what you say it’s cock & Wilcox Modular Nuclear of water, so that no systems need the decision was made to start an from the uranium and is used im- going to do.” Energy LLC, with the mPower to be running to remove heat. Lo- independent company. mediately. The TWR reactor can This appears to be the case small reactor. Lorenzini says the renzini describes the technology In 2011, Fluor Corp. agreed to operate on one fuel supply for 60 with TerraPower, which, without two major factors in turning the as revolutionary, but also empha- invest in excess of $30 million in or more years. the ability to build a test reactor, NuScale, which gives the compa- market around were the need to sizes its simplicity. A major hurdle for a new and can’t gather enough data to satisfy ny the financial security it needs build nuclear reactors without Work on the NuScale design innovative nuclear technology is the NRC in the time frame the taking a major financial risk, and to attract future purchasers. The began in 2000 and emerged out proving that it is safe. That’s the company would like. So it wants to demonstrate that small reactors of a collaborative project led by next step will be gaining approval responsibility of the NRC. The to gain approval to build a reactor could be built economically. Idaho National Environment & from the U.S Nuclear Regulatory majority of designs that come in a country that has the expertise “And I am not bashful in say- Engineering Laboratory (INEEL) Commission (NRC) to start con- through the NRC are based on ing that our entry into the market, with support from Oregon State struction. The company plans to light water reactor technology, to approve the TWR design. Ter- submit its application to the NRC followed by B&W,” said Loren- University (OSU), and funded by and in those cases “the staff here raPower will then return to the this year. zini, “were the two major events the U.S. Department of Energy. at the NRC expects it to take U.S. with data to demonstrate the NuScale has a major advantage that triggered that shift.” The project ended in 2003, but about five years to go through all safety of the design. TM

4 February 2012 APS Capitol Hill Quarterly

The Back very day for the past 10 and because of the potential to Eyears, human beings in dramatically improve individual the international space station lives and society. have been orbiting our world, That is why I proposed and conducting NASA-supported won enactment in Congress in research on the parameters of November 2011 for a break- the universe, innovative food PAGE through initiative that declares production, human biology and neuroscience research a federal thousands of other experiments that Government-backed Scientific Research Helps America priority and calls on the White will make our lives better in the 21st House, through the National Sci- century. Compete in Tomorrow’s Global Economy ence and Technology Council At the bottom of our planet, on (NSTC), to establish an interagency the icy landscape of Antarctica, a By U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah working group to coordinate Fed- thousand scientists financed by the eral investments in neuroscience National Science Foundation are research. This coordinated prior- searching for answers to climate ity – signed into law by President change and extreme survival. Obama – holds the promise of additional resources going At the repurposed Philadelphia Navy Yard, the Greater forward. Philadelphia Innovation Cluster, a Department of Energy The investments we make now in neuroscience re- Innovation Hub, has created a place where scientists and engineers from a cross section of disciplines will work search will have a multi-fold payoff, both in terms of the together to investigate new ways to make buildings more quality of life of Americans and reductions in healthcare energy efficient. This collaborative environment will re- costs. A coordinated federal policy on neuroscience is duce the time it takes to turn a new idea into a new prod- long overdue. The federal science and research agencies uct and will help the nation to adopt a more sustainable are best positioned to advance this vital effort, but they energy mix. must work together. This directive from the Congress will When weather-related disasters struck across the na- go a long way to make it happen. tion in 2011, climatologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were on the front lines providing an accurate and timely portrait of the “We must not cede our leader- storm systems. Every day, NOAA researchers help the world to gain a better understanding of the effects of ship because for more than half human-induced climate change on the planet’s weather a century, science has been the patterns. NOAA’s efforts are resulting in a better under- standing of climate change’s effects on oceans and biodi- driver of the American economy.” versity, longer storm warning lead times and new knowl- edge about our changing climate. Everywhere we look, big questions are being asked Neuroscience research is mainly supported by the Na- and far-reaching answers have been forthcoming from tional Institutes of Health, but also by NSF, the Depart- research sponsored and underwritten by you and me and ment of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, ence, as the largest funder of basic research in the physi- by every American. We all benefit from this multi-billion- and other Federal agencies. Much of this cutting-edge cal sciences in the United States, has helped the nation dollar initiative that is, in aggregate, vital to our survival research is under way in my home district. I have been accomplish its missions in energy security, national secu- as a global community and critical to our advancement as privileged to visit labs and meet an impressive roster of rity, environmental restoration, and discovery-driven sci- Americans. physicians and scientists at the University of Pennsylva- ence. And the National Science Foundation has consis- nia, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Monell tently fulfilled its unique federal role, providing support Chemical Senses Center and Drexel University – all lo- for university research that has made America’s higher “Scientific research sponsored education the envy of the world. cated within a few blocks of each other in West Philadel- President Obama has articulated a national imperative phia’s remarkable University City complex. or conducted by the United to honor science and “win the future” through innova- Neuroscience is not, of course, the only vital area of research with government input. The U.S. government States government has benefit- tion and manufacturing. Scientific research is key to this bright tomorrow that the President describes as attainable has long been engaged in breakthrough research at Na- ed all of us. Every project seeks – but not automatic. Our will is being tested every day. tional Laboratories that include Sandia and Los Alamos One area where our government can do more – and do in New Mexico and Fermi outside Chicago, all of which to unlock a door, every scientist it better – is neuroscience. We are on the cusp of advanc- I have visited. is impelled by the need to know es in our understanding of the brain. The human brain As men and women of science lead us to compete on regulates breathing, speech, and rational thought. Every the world stage, we are not shadowboxing. They are en- more.” aspect of our lives is dictated by synapses and responses gaged in research that cannot be done on the cheap, and to stimuli, yet we are only just beginning to understand it can’t be done piecemeal. Our national imperative is to the functions of this enigmatic organ. Neuroscience re- support our heroes of the laboratory. This is the challenge search can provide insight into learning and brain repair. of the 21st century. Scientific research sponsored or conducted by the It can help us to alleviate and prevent injury and illness, Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) is the senior United States government has benefited all of us. Every and it can help us to understand behaviors like criminal- Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee project seeks to unlock a door, every scientist is impelled ity and addiction. I am committed to neuroscience and on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies, by the need to know more. the possibilities it offers because of its interdisciplinary Yet this imperative of our government is all too of- which sets more than $50 billion in spending priorities nature – joining the biomedical and physical sciences – ten taken for granted, denied vital resources or even for the NSF, NASA, the NOAA, and the Departments of challenged politically. The effort to protect and promote Commerce and Justice. He is also a member of the Ap- scientific research is never-ending and never easy in the propriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water. The halls of Congress. “Make no mistake, we are in native Philadelphian holds a master’s degree in govern- Make no mistake, we are in global competition – with ment administration from the University of Pennsylvania the European Union, China, India, Russia and other na- global competition – with the Fels Center of Government. He is nationally recognized tions that don’t flinch on their commitment to basic sci- European Union, China, India, as an innovator in educational reform and is architect of ence. Singapore, with a population of less than five mil- GEAR UP, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for lion, invests $6 billion in research, about the same as our Russia and other nations that Undergraduate Programs, the nation’s most successful government funds through the National Science Founda- don’t flinch on their commit- college readiness program for low-income students. Fat- tion. China spares no expense as it reaches into space. tah is co-chair of the Congressional Urban Caucus. He We must not cede our leadership because for more than ment to basic science.” is in his ninth term representing portions of Philadelphia half a century, science has been the driver of the Ameri- and Montgomery County and served 12 years as a state can economy. The Department of Energy’s Office of Sci- legislator prior to election to Congress in 1994.

The views expressed on “The Back Page” are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views held by the American Physical Society.