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Office of Science and Technology Policy Blog

  • Scientific Integrity: Fueling Innovation, Building Public Trust

    Posted by John P. Holdren on December 17, 2010 at 3:21 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the White House blog

    On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum on Scientific Integrity emphasizing the importance of science in guiding Administration decisions and the importance of ensuring that the public trusts the science behind those decisions.  In it he highlighted six principles of scientific integrity that would be at the core of this Administration’s approach to policy making. And he asked me, in collaboration with other Federal officials, to craft recommendations for ensuring scientific integrity throughout the executive branch.

    Today, in response to the President’s request, I am issuing a Memorandum to the Heads of Departments and Agencies that provides further guidance to Executive Branch leaders as they implement Administration policies on scientific integrity. The new memorandum describes the minimum standards expected as departments and agencies craft scientific integrity rules appropriate for their particular missions and cultures, including a clear prohibition on political interference in scientific processes and expanded assurances of transparency. It requires that department and agency heads report to me on their progress toward completing those rules within 120 days.

    It’s important to recognize that, although this Memorandum is new, scientific integrity has been a White House priority since Day One of this Administration. That fact is exemplified by the dozens of extraordinarily high-caliber and internationally renowned scientists that the President has brought into his Administration, including three Nobel prize winners in science in full-time positions (Steven Chu, Harold Varmus, and Carl Wieman) and two more as members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (Mario Molina and Ahmed Zewail); by the policies the Administration has adopted, including the President’s Executive Order removing barriers to responsible research involving stem cells; by the budgets it has proposed, as reflected by the largest investment in science and innovation in our Nation’s history; and by the processes it has followed to apply science to some of our most challenging problems, including evidence-based decision-making in energy, agriculture, climate, resource management, and national security.

    Science and technology have extraordinary potential to help America achieve a broad range of national goals, including sparking economic growth and job creation; allowing Americans to live longer, healthier lives; developing clean sources of energy that reduce our dependence on foreign oil; and protecting our environment.  As the President said at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences last year, “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 am confident that today’s Memorandum will help ensure that science and technology continue to be brought to bear by this Administration with the greatest effectiveness and integrity in the service of all of the national goals the President has so clearly articulated.

    John P. Holdren is Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

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  • Transparency for Global Development

    Posted by Jeremy Weinstein and Robynn Sturm on December 16, 2010 at 12:05 PM EDT

    Today the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched Version 1.0 of the Foreign Assistance Dashboard, a new platform devoted to making it easier than ever for policymakers, civil society, and the public to understand U.S. investments and their impact around the globe. 

    Do you want to know how much the U.S. invested in education in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009? The Foreign Assistance Dashboard makes it easy to see and compare investments across sectors and countries at a glance. Civic-minded developers and researchers can download any and all of the Dashboard’s data in a machine-readable format to mash, visualize, and analyze U.S. budget data in new ways. 

    Today’s launch of the Foreign Assistance Dashboard is but a starting point for greater U.S. aid transparency.  In the months to come, the Dashboard will grow beyond State and USAID to include data from all Federal agencies that provide foreign assistance.  In addition, more granular and timely data will enable users to drill down to the details of specific projects and track trends.  With time, the Dashboard will illuminate not only dollars spent but also the impact of our investments. Ultimately, government-wide collection of featured high-value data will be institutionalized through guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.

    The Dashboard will advance U.S. goals for global development and broader prosperity by shining a light on how much foreign assistance is provided, for what purposes, and with what result. Increased transparency will enable recipient governments to better plan and budget. It will enable donors around the globe to coordinate and target investments most effectively. And it will empower civil society worldwide to hold governments and donors accountable for development results.

    The Foreign Assistance Dashboard is the latest milestone in the Obama Administration’s commitment to create “an unprecedented level of openness in Government.” President Obama signed the Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government as his first executive action. From publishing the names of visitors to the White House to providing historic visibility into the expenditure of taxpayer dollars, the Administration has already taken unprecedented steps to increase transparency and accountability in government.  In his 2010 speech to the United Nations General Assembly, the President underscored his support for open government principles worldwide, calling on countries in all corners of the globe to make specific commitments that will strengthen the compact between citizens and their leaders.

    Jeremy Weinstein is Director for Democracy on the National Security Staff

    Robynn Sturm is Advisor to the Deputy Director in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

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  • The NNI at 10

    Posted by Tom Kalil and Travis Earles on December 13, 2010 at 6:01 PM EDT

    Last week, many big names from the Federal government’s past and present efforts in science and technology came together just outside Washington, DC, at the “NNI Innovation Summit” to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)—the multi-agency cooperative effort designed to catalyze breakthroughs in nanoscale science and engineering.

    President Obama’s science and technology advisor, John P. Holdren, opened the Summit and was joined by past science advisors John Marburger and Neal Lane in a conversation about the past and future of the NNI. In a spirited conversation, all three recognized the transformative impact of the NNI while noting the critical need for interdisciplinary education and the development of a trained nanotechnology workforce to maintain the Initiative’s great momentum. Dr. Holdren emphasized this Administration’s focus on science and technology and highlighted its commitment to responsible development of nanotechnology with appropriate attention to environment, health, and safety issues. He also highlighted some of the recommendations from the recent assessment by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, including that report’s call for Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives focused on specific technologies such as nanoelectronics and nanomanufacturing.

    Since its inception in 2000, the NNI has set the pace around the globe for ground-breaking interdisciplinary research and infrastructure development that is critical for nanotechnology innovation. The NNI has catalyzed remarkable advances in electronics, medicine, energy, manufacturing, and many other areas, enabling a broad spectrum of applications that range from the evolutionary to the extraordinary. Starting with a roughly $500 million investment by half-a-dozen  agencies, the NNI has developed into an engine of innovation that interconnects 25 Federal science departments and agencies and has invested a total of $12 billion in one of the world’s fastest moving areas of science and engineering.

    Last week’s highly anticipated meeting brought together senior leadership in the Federal government, including Energy Secretary Steve Chu and directors from many NNI agencies, as well as distinguished leaders and innovators from industry and academia. The event was kicked off on Wednesday with the NNI Strategic Plan and Opportunities Workshop, which focused on the NNI Strategic Plan, with a packed program of presentations by NNI agency representatives. Wednesday was also the first day of the Nanotechnology Innovation Showcase, an exhibition of about 100 of the latest developments from a wide range of innovators in areas including advanced nanotechnology-based lighting sources, light-weight nanocomposite materials for body armor, and nanoscale medical therapies.

    By Friday evening, as the inspiring gathering came to a close, there was a palpable sense of enthusiasm and optimism among attendees. The NNI is still a relatively young initiative, and there are many exciting nanotechnology developments on the horizon. As Dr. Holdren said in his closing remarks, “I hope that I will be able to join you 10 years from now, with the next President’s science advisor, to revel together in all that is new in the world of nano.”

    Tom Kalil is Deputy Director for Policy in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

    Travis Earles is Assistant Director for Nanotechnology in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

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  • Rockets to Rockies: NASA Helps Build Colorado Economy

    Posted by Doug Comstock on December 13, 2010 at 11:08 AM EDT

    Many of the technologies that  NASA develops to explore the universe and keep astronauts safe in the extreme environment of space have applications right here on Earth.  From water purification systems and biohazard sensors to efficient energy systems and nutritional supplements in baby food, the spinoffs from space technology are myriad.  And now a new partnership in Colorado is poised to leverage space and energy technologies to bring down-to-Earth economic benefits to the Rocky Mountain State.

    Today, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., and NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver are announcing a new Technology Acceleration Program (TAP) that will leverage space technology from NASA to help accelerate economic growth and create new jobs in Colorado. This public-private partnership will create a regional economic innovation cluster focused on aerospace and energy technologies.  Under this model, Federal and state governments will work together with industry and academia to strengthen Colorado’s economy. 

    The Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology (CAMT) is at the core of this exciting initiative, with the Departments of Energy and Commerce joining along with NASA.  Through this collaboration, private sector partners are financing the development of an Aerospace and Clean Energy Park that will host new businesses interested in using NASA technologies and expertise to develop  new commercial products and services.  The goal of this new public-private partnership is to create 10,000 new jobs in Colorado over the next five years.

    This model for leveraging Federal investments in R&D to help accelerate economic growth reflects successful public-private partnerships like the NASA Research Park at NASA’s Ames Research Center in the heart of Silicon Valley.  NASA plans to replicate these models in other states and regions as well, to drive regional economic growth and strengthen aerospace and energy supply chains.  There are already some great examples of NASA technology being commercialized in Colorado, from temperature-controlled textiles used in outdoor gear to dehydration-preventing products for athletes and adventurers.  The new partnership builds on these successes and promises to generate new ones by accelerating the flow of technology from the lab into the marketplace.

    For more information, see: http://spinoff.nasa.gov.

    Doug Comstock is Director for Partnerships, Innovation & Commercial Space in NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist

    NASA, CAMT Sign Agreement

    CAMT CEO Elaine Thorndike, seated left, and NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, seated right, sign an agreement at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, that created a Technology Acceleration Program and Regional Innovation Cluster for Aerospace and Clean Energy. Looking on from left, Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade Don Marostica, Colorado State Representative Su Ryden, Colorado State Senate President Brandon Schaffer, Representative from U.S. Senator Udall's office Jimmy Haugue, NIST/MEP Director Roger Kilmer and Colorado State Governor Bill Ritter. A manufacturing park focused on rapid new product development and production will be developed to assist growing Colorado businesses while promoting the commercialization of technology developed for the space program. (Photo courtesy NASA/Bill Ingalls) December 13, 2010.

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  • Celebrating Computer Science

    Posted by Dawn Joseph on December 10, 2010 at 11:43 AM EDT

    The second annual Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) may be coming to an end tomorrow, but we at OSTP did not want to let this important milestone pass without bringing some attention to its goals of building up and strengthening computer science education programs around the country to better prepare students for the digital age. By stimulating a range of activities all across the country, this special week of celebration and education seeks to ensure that our Nation retains and expands its innovative and skilled workforce in order to address such pressing problems as environmental degradation, poverty, hunger, and threats to homeland security.

    Building on the success of last year’s CSEdWeek, this year’s effort has built support for rigorous and extensive computer science education programs in states, universities, and local school districts. An array of local celebrations has helped create awareness of the challenges facing the field—including the need for better professional development for teachers, improved curricula, and inclusion of more students from groups underrepresented in technical fields—even as they have inspired a growing number of students to pursue classes and careers in computer science.

    Earlier this week, for example, middle- and high-school students from Columbus, IN, visited the campus of Indiana University-Bloomington to make detailed observations of a large geometric sculpture, “Indiana Arc,” by Charles Perry.  At Bradley University in Illinois, students organized a digital gaming competition. And in Palo Alto, CA, students at Henry M. Gunn High School hosted a Bay Area programming contest.

    You can find more information on these celebrations and resources for computer science education at http://www.csedweek.org.

    Computer science is increasing its stature in Washington and throughout the Nation given predictions that some 800,000 high-end computer science jobs are expected to be created between now and 2016, making it one of the fastest growing occupational fields. The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) emphasized the importance of computer science as an element of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in its recent report, Prepare and Inspire: K-12 Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) for America’s Future.

    CSEdWeek is a joint effort held in cooperation with the Computing in the Core Coalition and led by a broad coalition of professional associations, corporations, governmental entities and non-governmental organizations. It is held the second week in December in honor of Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneer in computer science born on December 9, 1906. She engineered new programming languages and developed standards for computer systems that laid the foundation for many advances in computer science from the late 1940s through the 1970s.

    Dawn Joseph is a student volunteer at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

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  • PCAST Releases Health IT Report

    Posted by Rick Weiss on December 8, 2010 at 12:15 PM EDT

    Today the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology released a highly anticipated report providing detailed recommendations to the President and Federal agencies about how to take better advantage of information technology to increase healthcare quality while reducing costs.

    Released at an event featuring Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and National Economic Council director Lawrence Summers, the report—Realizing the Full Potential of Health Information Technology to Improve Healthcare for Americans: The Path Forward—notes that healthcare could benefit enormously from greater use of information technology (IT). Yet it is one of the few economic sectors in the Nation that has largely failed to tap into the power of IT.

    Reflecting input from industry and IT experts, privacy groups, healthcare professionals, and others, the report calls upon the Federal government to facilitate the widespread adoption of a “universal exchange language” that would allow the transfer of  pieces of health data while maximizing privacy. Such a system would allow people’s health data to follow them wherever they go, and help physicians provide the highest possible level of care, while giving patients unprecedented control over who has access to their information. At the same time, it can save the Nation money by increasing efficiency and reducing redundancy.

    Importantly, implementation of PCAST’s recommendations would not require physicians to replace their existing electronic health records systems, virtually all of which could be made compatible through “apps” and other “middleware.” And they do not call for creation of a centralized Federal database of people’s health information or the assigning of Federal healthcare identifier numbers to individuals.

    To help implement its recommendations, the report calls upon ONC and CMS to create appropriate definitions of “meaningful use” as they craft standards for health information technology, which under law must be achieved in stages by 2013 and 2015. It also calls upon CMS to accelerate the modernization and restructuring of its IT platforms and staff expertise.

    For more information, see whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast.

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