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WASHINGTON NEWS toward shaping and implementing a bipar- report] as seeking to find common ground example, it is unfair to use public funds tisan and bicameral national science policy." between the two political parties." for biomedical research if the fruits of that Democrats in the Caucus apparently see All reaction to the report was not posi- research are so expensive that only a the Ehlers report as a positive develop- tive, however. Several members of handful of the most economically advan- ment. "The Republicans have essentially Ehlers's own committee refrained from taged can enjoy them," Brown said. "That endorsed a federal role in funding science signing the bill. Its chief opponent was is a hidden redistribution of wealth and and technology," according to one mem- Rep. George Brown (D-Calif.). "I cannot life-expectancy from poorer Americans to ber of the Caucus staff. The staffer called endorse the report as written because it richer Americans under the guise of the document a "roadblock removed" in fails to take on some of the issues I think 'basic' research in the life sciences. A new the process of passing comprehensive are most important to the future health of science policy must wrestle with these R&D legislation because its indicated sup- the scientific enterprise," Brown wrote in types of questions." port by the House means the members his dissention. Brown had urged Ehlers • A new science policy should point toward officially recognize the importance of and the Republicans to include what he decision-making tools for better investment these efforts. "That's different from the considered three essential "guiding princi- choices. "I think that we need to tackle all way it was just a few years ago," the ples" in any discussion of science policy: of these elements of decision-making as staffer said. "Ehlers is right when he says • Understanding the process of creativity and we move toward a more rational analysis that we've only had a budget policy and innovation. Brown said the Ehlers report of the major problems facing society," what we need is a science policy." "provides no guidance on how the Brown said, including "affordable health, The Ehlers document also has been cor- Federal government should determine broadly based economic opportunity, sus- dially received by the Clinton Admini- that a 'market failure' has occurred in the tainable environmental policies and social stration. "We're very pleased to see Rep. downstream parts of the R&D process or discontent—and of the science needed to Ehlers join us in a call for balance in fund- what types of policies would be appropri- address those problems." ing various scientific endeavors," said one ate to redress such failures." The full text of the document can be administration policy official. "While we • A new science policy should articulate the viewed at the Committee's website: didn't see it as strikingly new, we're espe- public's interest in supporting science—the http: / / www.house.gov / science / science_ cially pleased to see him [Ehlers] strongly goals and values the public should expect of policy_study.htm/. link research and education. We see [the the scientific enterprise. "To give just one PHIL BERARDELLI PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM An analysis ofpubiic policy issues and how they affect MRS members and the materials community... New Era of Science Policy Addresses Future Challenges Just one year ago, under the auspices of But even more important than what we prise must be kept strong and sustainable. the Committee on Science of the House of learned from these sources was the Much of our report is devoted to recom- Representatives and with the full support premise that we started with. Our vision mendations for doing so. We identified of the Speaker of the House, I embarked for the future was global: that we must three major areas requiring attention. on a major project: to evaluate the United maintain and improve our science and First, we must ensure that the well of sci- States' current policies with respect to sci- technology enterprise in order to advance entific discovery does not run dry, and we ence and technology and to suggest rec- human understanding of the universe do this by facilitating and encouraging ommendations for the future. and all it contains, and that we ought to advances in fundamental research. This led to a tremendous effort over the use that understanding to improve the Second, we must see that this well of dis- last year resulting in our report, Unlocking lives, health, and freedoms of all peo- covery is not allowed to stagnate. That is, Our Future: Toward a New National Science ples—not just Americans, but the entire discoveries from this well must be drawn Policy. We released the report on Septem- planef s inhabitants. continually and applied to the develop- ber 24, 1998; it gained approval of a ma- Science—including the physical, natural, ment of new products or processes, to so- jority of the members on the Science life and social sciences, mathematics, and lutions for societal or environmental chal- Committee shortly thereafter, and it was engineering—can help us realize this lenges, or simply used to establish the approved by the full House of Represen- vision. The scientific and technology enter- foundation for further discoveries. Finally, tatives on October 8,1998. prise is critical to bringing about advances we must strengthen the education system In preparing the report, I estimate I in understanding that help ensure that we we depend upon to produce the diverse spoke to or with over 10,000 scientists can maintain our national defense, keep array of people who draw from and and received over 300 e-mail messages people healthy, and bring about prosperi- replenish the well of discovery—from sci- and numerous letters. In addition, the ty. I truly believe that science and technol- entists and engineers to technologically Science Committee held seven hearings, ogy are the key to our future—not only as proficient workers and informed voters two roundtable discussions, and numer- a country, but also as a planet. A vigorous and consumers. ous other meetings on the subject of the and sustainable U.S. science and technolo- I have been gratified by the reception the Science Policy Study. We listened very gy enterprise may be our most important report has received so far; the bipartisan carefully to what every group or individ- legacy to future generations. Senate Science and Technology Caucus, ual had to say and the report reflects For science to continue to exert its bene- the director of the National Science Foun- much of what we learned. ficial effects on society, the scientific enter- dation, and the director of the Office of 20 MRS BULLETIN/NOVEMBER 1998 PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM An analysis of public policy issues and how they affect MRS members and the materials community... Science and Technology Policy have all report is not an end in itself; it is a begin- that together—as policymakers, scien- indicated support for the report. Addi- ning, and much hard work remains. This tists, and engineers—we can work on tional letters of support from scientists and work is not something the Congress or building an even better and stronger sci- scientific organizations are pouring into even the federal government can do on its ence and technology enterprise. my office. own. Making the necessary changes to VERNON J. EHLERS What little criticism of the report that our science and technology enterprise has surfaced has come mainly from those will require the involvement of citizens Vernon J. Ehlers was first elected to who say the report does not go far enough and organizations like the Materials Congress in a special election in December in recommending changes to our scientific Research Society from across the country. 1993, after a distinguished career of teaching, programs. But I believe that what our It is my hope that Unlocking Our scientific research, and community service. country needs now is not a complete re- Future: Toward a New National Science The first research physicist to serve in the structuring of our scientific enterprise, but Policy will form the basis for increased U.S. Congress, Ehlers serves as Vice Chair of instead an accurate evaluation of the U.S. focus on science and its dividends, and the House Committee on Science. science and technology policies, and a determination of what changes are required to ensure the long-term health of this enterprise. I do not believe there is a singular, sweeping plan for doing so. The fact that keeping the enterprise healthy requires numerous actions and multiple steps is indicative of the complexity of the enter- prise. The fact that, in our report, we do not advocate a major overhaul of the sci- entific and engineering enterprise, but nanopowders ar e 100 x finer ? instead suggest a fine-tuning and rejuve- nation of it, is indicative of its present strength. When i t come s t o thinkin g smal l particles , n o on e i s bigge r tha n A building's foundation, while invisible Nanomateriais Research Corporation. At NRC, fou r year s o f nano - and without flourish, determines whether engineering ha s the structure will weather the ravages of time and nature or succumb to them. The I i n a patente d proces s fo r affordable , comprehensive survey of the scientific and engineering enterprise presented in bulk productio n o f our report and the recommendations we nanoscale fin e powders . made provide a solid foundation to build upon in strengthening and sustaining our scientific and engineering enterprise.

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