Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? Norman R. Augustine, Chair, Rising Above the Gathering Storm Committee, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine of the National Academies ISBN: 0-309-11224-9, 92 pages, 7 x 10, (2007) This free PDF was downloaded from: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html Visit the National Academies Press online, the authoritative source for all books from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council: • Download hundreds of free books in PDF • Read thousands of books online for free • Purchase printed books and PDF files • Explore our innovative research tools – try the Research Dashboard now • Sign up to be notified when new books are published Thank you for downloading this free PDF. If you have comments, questions or want more information about the books published by the National Academies Press, you may contact our customer service department toll-free at 888-624-8373, visit us online, or send an email to [email protected]. This book plus thousands more are available at www.nap.edu. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF file are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Distribution or copying is strictly prohibited without permission of the National Academies Press <http://www.nap.edu/permissions/>. Permission is granted for this material to be posted on a secure password-protected Web site. The content may not be posted on a public Web site. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html IS AMERICA FALLING OFF THE FLAT EA R T H? NORMAN R. AUGUSTINE Chair, Rising Above the Gathering Storm Committee The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent an official policy statement of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, or the committee that developed Rising Above the Gathering Storm. THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS Washington, D.C. www.nap.edu Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS • 500 Fifth Street, N.W. • Washington, DC 20001 Support for this project was provided by the National Academies. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project. Available from: Laura Ahlberg 6801 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 Phone: 301-897-6186 Copyright 2007 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ii Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meet- ing national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examina- tion of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. www.national-academies.org Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html PREFACE ur institutions—the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine—are deeply concerned about the nation’s ability to compete during the 21st century. Prompted by a bipartisan request from Congress, we undertook a study that culminated Oin the report Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, released in late 2005. We were subsequently encouraged as President George W. Bush introduced his American Competitiveness Initiative and as both the Senate and House passed bills based on ideas from the report and from others. At least one newspaper in every state of the Union had an editorial page item indicating the need for action on this issue. We held a major meeting with more than 1,000 participants from all 50 states—both in person and virtually—to discuss ideas for actions that could be initiated at the regional, state, and local levels. Yet, we still have a long way to go for our nation to be competitive in future decades, when our children and grandchildren will need jobs and desire a standard of living at least as good as today’s. This essay, by Norman Augustine, the chair of the committee that developed the Rising Above the Gathering Storm report, provides a timely update on the proposals raised in the report. As he has in speeches throughout the country, Norman Augustine continues to make the case that action is needed so that the United States remains competitive in the 21st century. Although the responsibility for the content of this essay rests with the author, we fully support the goals that he expresses in it. In 2006, the National Academy of Sciences presented Mr. Augustine with its most prestigious award, the Public Welfare Medal, to honor his contributions to the vitality of v Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html preface science in the United States by bringing to industry and government a better understand- ing of the crucial role that fundamental scientific research must play in our long-term security and economic prosperity. Our entire nation—and its scientific and engineering enterprises in particular—owes an enormous debt to Norman Augustine. Acting on his strong personal conviction that sound national policy must embrace the very best in sci- ence and engineering, he has made a great difference in our nation’s life and welfare. Ralph J. Cicerone Charles M. Vest Harvey V. Fineberg President President President National Academy of Sciences National Academy of Engineering Institute of Medicine vi Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html ACKNOWLEDGMENTS he author is indebted to his colleagues on the National Academies Gathering Storm committee, its staff, and the many other individuals and groups whose work to strengthen America’s present and future competitiveness has been drawn on to produce this essay. He is also indebted to those who assisted in Tpreparation of the manuscript, fact-checking, and editing. vii Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 IS AMERICA FALLING OFF THE FLAT EARTH? 2 CAN AMERICA COMPETE? 4 DISTANCE IS DEAD 8 THE GATHERING STORM 14 AMERICA, WE HAVE A PROBLEM 17 THE DINOSAURS NEVER SAW IT COMING 22 WELCOME TO THE 21ST CENTURY BOARD ROOM 26 THE COMPETITIVENESS EQUATION—THE COST OF LABOR 28 THE COMPETITIVENESS EQUATION—THE QUALITY OF THE WORKFORCE 30 THE COMPETITIVENESS EQUATION—THE SUPPLY OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS 41 THE COMPETITIVENESS EQUATION—THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE 54 THE COMPETITIVENESS EQUATION—THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM 61 GONDWANALAND LIVES! 65 A NEW BEGINNING . OR A NEW END? 75 AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION 78 BIBLIOGRAPHY 80 ix Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth? http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12021.html Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.