Making Science a Presidential Priority

(page 2 of 2)

Consideration and Funding Sought

But rather than expecting firm positions on specific issues, what scientists mainly want now from the Presidential candidates are assurances that the next Administration will at least listen to the science and take it into consideration. "We don't want them to think about one or two hot-button issues, but rather how they would use science to inform decisions, and how they would use science and research to address the country's problems," explains Barry Toiv, spokesman for the Association of American Universities.

The research community, including high-tech companies, also wants the next President to boost funding for science. The main argument is that tomorrow's innovations, economic growth, and America's competitiveness all depend on investments today in research. "Science is not just a nice story," says Krauss. "Our standard of living today [depends] on research done a generation ago."

This argument was laid out in great detail in a recent NAS report, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm." And after strong lobbying by scientific and industry groups, Congress was sufficiently convinced of the need to pass a law authorizing increases in basic research. But it didn't happen. At the end of 2007, the appropriations committees balked at actually providing the money. "We really felt the rug was pulled out from under us," says Robert Spurrier Boege, executive director of the Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America (ASTRA).

The result has been continuing declines in government funding in many areas of science and technology. The fallout has already begun. Two of nation's top physics facilities, the Stanford Linear Accelerator and Fermilab, are laying off staff. On Feb. 12, top universities and business groups will hold a press conference to call on Congress to address the problem.

Some Worry the Effort Could Backfire

Researchers are also hoping a Presidential debate on science would help get this message across. They like some of what the candidates have said so far. (For a summary, see election2008.aaas.org/comparisons.) Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both support big increases in basic research, along with targeted investments in energy. And like the two Democrats, John McCain promises action against global warming, though he's been silent on most other science issues.

Some experts warn that the effort to inject scientific issues into the Presidential race could backfire. "Anything that gets elevated on the political agenda has risks," explains Lane. It might be better to work quietly behind the scenes, suggests David Goldston, visiting lecturer at Harvard and former staff director of the House Science Committee. Scientists may feel slighted if their concerns are not in the limelight, but a high profile is not always the road to success, he argues. A case in point: Doubling of the National Institutes of Health's budget became a top political cause. But it happened too quickly and with too little care, leading to severe strains now that the budget has leveled off.

There's also the danger that scientists will be seen as just another interest group with its hand out. "The research community needs a more compelling message than 'give us 7% more money than last year,'" says Tom Kalil, special assistant to the chancellor for science and technology at the University of California at Berkeley and former deputy director of the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration.

Krauss and his partners in the effort to get science higher on the agenda believe they have the right message: Our future prosperity, safety, and health depend on research, he says. We'll soon find out how much the candidates agree with that.

Carey is a senior correspondent for BusinessWeek in Washington .