The Chemical Industry has recently joined the long list of US industries with a negative trade balance, and investments in chemical science R&D are following the migration of manufacturing to overseas. Chemical sciences are core competences for most industries and are vital for US efforts to improve its competitiveness and energy security. President Obama has proposed to increase US R&D investments from the current 2.6% to 3% of the GDP, but how can this be accomplished, and is it enough to reverse the tide?
On April 27, 2009, the opening of the National Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the wonder, history, and inspiration of science in America, and called for greater investment in research and science education:
“At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science, that support for research is somehow a luxury at moments defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before.
I believe it is not in our character, the American character, to follow. It’s our character to lead. And it is time for us to lead once again. So I’m here today to set this goal: We will devote more than 3 percent of our GDP to research and development. We will not just meet, but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the space race, through innovation, promote breakthroughs in energy and medicine, and improve education in math and science.
This represents the largest commitment to scientific research and innovation in American history.
Just think what this will allow us to accomplish: solar cells as cheap as paint; green buildings that produce all the energy they consume; learning software as effective as a personal tutor; prosthetics so advanced that you could play the piano again; an expansion of the frontiers of human knowledge about ourselves and world the around us. We can do this.”
The full text and a video of the president’s speech can be found at The White House Blog.
The chemical science and engineering community is greatly invigorated by the president’s words about “The Necessity of Science” for the future of our country.
A Summary of the Collaboration Manual prepared by the Action Network to Advocate Research Collaboration is now available on the Members Only section. The details of each chapter are posted on the Members Only site as well as a forum for comments and discussion.
On February 24th, in his address to Joint Session of Congress, President Obama stated that "we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years.
