National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

RISING ABOVE THE GATHERING STORM

Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future

Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century:

An Agenda for American Science and Technology

Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING, AND INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

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.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rising above the gathering storm : energizing and employing America for a brighter economic future : Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century : an agenda for American science and technology ; Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-309-10039-7 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-0-309-65442-5 (pdf) 1. United States—Economic conditions—Forecasting. 2. Globalization. 3. United States—Economic policy. I. Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century (U.S.) II. Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (U.S.)

HC106.83.R57 2006

331.12’0420973—dc22

2006025998

For more information about the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, see http://www.nationalacademies.org/cosepup.

Available from the

National Academies Press,

500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu.

Copyright 2007 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine


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 meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf 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 examination 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. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.


www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

COMMITTEE ON PROSPERING IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY OF THE 21ST CENTURY

NORMAN R. AUGUSTINE (Chair), Retired Chairman and CEO,

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD

CRAIG R. BARRETT, Chairman of the Board,

Intel Corporation, Chandler, AZ

GAIL CASSELL, Vice President, Scientific Affairs, and Distinguished Lilly Research Scholar for Infectious Diseases,

Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN

STEVEN CHU, Director,

E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

ROBERT M. GATES, President,

Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

NANCY S. GRASMICK,

Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, Baltimore, MD

CHARLES O. HOLLIDAY, JR., Chairman of the Board and CEO,

DuPont Company, Wilmington, DE

SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON, President,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY

ANITA K. JONES, Lawrence R. Quarles Professor of Engineering and Applied Science,

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

JOSHUA LEDERBERG,

Sackler Foundation Scholar, Rockefeller University, New York, NY

RICHARD LEVIN, President,

Yale University, New Haven, CT

C. D. (DAN) MOTE, JR., President,

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

CHERRY MURRAY, Deputy Director for Science and Technology,

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA

PETER O’DONNELL, JR., President,

O’Donnell Foundation, Dallas, TX

LEE R. RAYMOND, Chairman and CEO,

Exxon Mobil Corporation, Irving, TX

ROBERT C. RICHARDSON, F. R. Newman Professor of Physics and Vice Provost for Research,

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

P. ROY VAGELOS, Retired Chairman and CEO,

Merck, Whitehouse Station, NJ

CHARLES M. VEST, President Emeritus,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

GEORGE M. WHITESIDES, Woodford L. & Ann A. Flowers University Professor,

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

RICHARD N. ZARE, Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor in Natural Science,

Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

Principal Project Staff

DEBORAH D. STINE, Study Director

PETER HENDERSON, Senior Program Officer

JO L. HUSBANDS, Senior Program Officer

LAUREL L. HAAK, Program Officer

TOM ARRISON, Senior Program Officer

DAVID ATTIS, Policy Consultant

ALAN ANDERSON, Consultant Writer

STEVE OLSON, Consultant Writer

RACHEL COURTLAND, Research Associate

NEERAJ P. GORKHALY, Senior Program Assistant

JOHN B. SLANINA, Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow

BENJAMIN A. NOVAK, Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow

NORMAN GROSSBLATT, Senior Editor

KATE KELLY, Editor

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND PUBLIC POLICY

GEORGE M. WHITESIDES (Chair), Woodford L. & Ann A. Flowers University Professor,

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

RALPH J. CICERONE (Ex officio), President,

National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC

UMA CHOWDHRY, Vice President,

Central Research and Development, DuPont Company, Wilmington, DE

R. JAMES COOK, Interim Dean,

College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

HAILE DEBAS, Executive Director,

Global Health Sciences, and

Maurice Galante Distinguished Professor of Surgery,

University of California, San Francisco, CA

HARVEY FINEBERG (Ex officio), President,

Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC

MARYE ANNE FOX (Ex officio), Chancellor,

University of California, San Diego, CA

ELSA GARMIRE, Professor,

School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

M. R. C. GREENWOOD (Ex officio), Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs,

University of California, Oakland, CA

NANCY HOPKINS, Amgen Professor of Biology,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

WILLIAM H. JOYCE (Ex officio), Chairman and CEO,

Nalco, Naperville, IL

MARY-CLAIRE KING, American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Genetics,

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

W. CARL LINEBERGER, Professor of Chemistry,

Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

RICHARD A. MESERVE, President,

Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC

ROBERT M. NEREM, Parker H. Petit Professor and Director,

Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

LAWRENCE T. PAPAY, Retired Sector Vice President for Integrated Solutions,

Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, CA

ANNE PETERSEN, Senior Vice President,

Programs, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek, MI

CECIL PICKETT, President,

Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ

EDWARD H. SHORTLIFFE, Professor and Chair,

Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

HUGO SONNENSCHEIN, Charles L. Hutchinson Distinguished Service Professor,

Department of Economics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

SHEILA E. WIDNALL, Abby Rockefeller Mauze Professor of Aeronautics,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

WM. A. WULF (Ex officio), President,

National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC

MARY LOU ZOBACK, Senior Research Scientist,

Earthquake Hazards Team, US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA

Staff

RICHARD BISSELL, Executive Director

DEBORAH D. STINE, Associate Director

LAUREL L. HAAK, Program Officer

MARION RAMSEY, Administrative Coordinator

CRAIG REED, Financial Associate

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

This page intentionally left blank.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

Preface

Ninety-nine percent of the discoveries are made by one percent of the scientists.

Julius Axelrod, Nobel Laureate1

The prosperity the United States enjoys today is due in no small part to investments the nation has made in research and development at universities, corporations, and national laboratories over the last 50 years. Recently, however, corporate, government, and national scientific and technical leaders have expressed concern that pressures on the science and technology enterprise could seriously erode this past success and jeopardize future US prosperity. Reflecting this trend is the movement overseas not only of manufacturing jobs but also of jobs in administration, finance, engineering, and research.

The councils of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, at their annual joint meeting in February 2005, discussed these tensions and examined the position of the United States in today’s global knowledge-discovery enterprise. Participants expressed concern that a weakening of science and technology in the United States would inevitably degrade its social and economic conditions and in particular erode the ability of its citizens to compete for high-quality jobs.

On the basis of the urgency expressed by the councils, the National Academies’ Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy

1

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 149, No. 2, June 2005.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

(COSEPUP) was charged with organizing a planning meeting, which took place May 11, 2005. One of the speakers at the meeting was Senator Lamar Alexander, the former secretary of education and former president of the University of Tennessee.

Senator Alexander indicated that the Energy Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs, had been given the authority by the full committee’s chair, Senator Pete Domenici, to hold a series of hearings to identify specific steps that the federal government should take to ensure the preeminence of America’s science and technology enterprise. Senator Alexander asked the National Academies to provide assistance in this effort by selecting a committee of experts from the scientific and technical community to assess the current situation and, where appropriate, make recommendations. The committee would be asked to identify urgent challenges and determine specific steps to ensure that the United States maintains its leadership in science and engineering to compete successfully, prosper, and be secure in the 21st century.

On May 12, 2005, the day after the planning meeting, three members of the House of Representatives who have jurisdiction over science and technology policy and funding announced that a conference would be held in fall 2005 on science, technology, innovation, and manufacturing. Appearing at a Capitol Hill press briefing to discuss the conference were representatives Frank Wolf, Sherwood Boehlert, and Vern Ehlers. Representative Boehlert said of the conference: “It can help forge a national consensus on what is needed to retain US leadership in innovation. A summit like this, with the right leaders, under the aegis of the federal government, can bring renewed attention to science and technology concerns so that we can remain the nation that the world looks to for the newest ideas and the most skilled people.”

In describing the rationale for the conference, Representative Wolf recalled meeting with a group of scientists and asking them how well the United States was doing in science and innovation. None of the scientists, he reported, said that the nation was doing “okay.” About 40% said that we were “in a stall,” and the remaining 60% said that we were “in decline.” He asked a similar question of the executive board of a prominent high-technology association, which reported that in its view the United States was “in decline.”

Later, the National Academies received a bipartisan letter addressing the subject of America’s competitiveness from Senators Lamar Alexander and Jeff Bingaman. The letter, dated May 27, 2005, requested that the National Academies conduct a formal study on the issue to assist in congressional deliberations. That was followed by a bipartisan letter from Representatives Sherwood Boehlert and Bart Gordon, of the House Committee on

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

Science, which expanded on the Senate request. In response, the National Academies initiated a study with its own funds.

To undertake the study, COSEPUP established the Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century: An Agenda for American Science and Technology. The committee members included presidents of major universities, Nobel laureates, CEOs of Fortune 100 corporations, and former presidential appointees. They were asked to investigate the following questions:

  • What are the top 10 actions, in priority order, that federal policymakers could take to enhance the science and technology enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st century?

  • What implementation strategy, with several concrete steps, could be used to implement each of those actions?

This study and report were carried out with an unusual degree of urgency—only a matter of weeks elapsed from the committee’s initial gathering to release of its report. The process followed the regular procedures for an independent National Research Council study, including review of the report, in this case, by 37 experts. The report relies on customary reference to the scientific literature and on consensus views and judgments of the committee members.

The committee began by assembling the recommendations of 13 issue papers summarizing past studies of topics related to the present study. It then convened five focus groups consisting of 66 experts in K–12 education, higher education, research, innovation and workforce issues, and national and homeland security and asked each group to recommend three actions it considered to be necessary for the nation to compete, prosper, and be secure in the 21st century. The committee used those suggestions and its own judgment to make its recommendations. The key thematic issues underlying these discussions were the nation’s need to create jobs and need for affordable, clean, and reliable energy.

In this report, a description of the key elements of American prosperity in the 21st century is followed by an overview of how science and technology are critical to that prosperity. The report then evaluates how the United States is doing in science and technology and provides recommendations for improving our nation’s prosperity. Finally, it posits the status of prosperity if the United States maintains a narrow lead (the current situation), falls behind, or emerges as the leader in a few selected fields of science and technology.

We strayed from our charge in that we present not 10 actions but 4 recommendations and 20 specific actions to implement them. The committee members deeply believe in the fundamental linkage of all the recommen-

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

dations and their integrity as a coordinated set of policy actions. To emphasize one or neglect another, the members decided, would substantially weaken what should be viewed as a coherent set of high-priority actions to create jobs and enhance the nation’s energy supply in an era of globalization. For example, there is little benefit in producing more researchers if there are no funds to support their research.

The committee thanks the focus-group members, who took precious personal time in midsummer to donate the expertise that would permit a highly focused, detailed examination of a question of extraordinary complexity and importance. We thank the staff of the National Academies. They quickly mobilized the knowledge resources and practical skills needed to complete this study in a rapid, thorough manner.

Norman R. Augustine

Chair, Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century


CRAIG BARRETT


GAIL CASSELL


STEVEN CHU


ROBERT GATES


NANCY GRASMICK


CHARLES HOLLIDAY, JR.


SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON


ANITA K. JONES

Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

JOSHUA LEDERBERG


RICHARD LEVIN


C. D. (DAN) MOTE, JR.


CHERRY MURRAY


PETER O’DONNELL, JR.


LEE R. RAYMOND


ROBERT C. RICHARDSON


P. ROY VAGELOS


CHARLES M. VEST


GEORGE M. WHITESIDES


RICHARD N. ZARE

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

This page intentionally left blank.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

Acknowledgments

This report is the product of many people. First, we thank all the focus-group members, listed in Appendix C, for contributing their time and knowledge at the focus-group session in August 2005. Second, we would like to thank all the committees and analysts at other organizations who have gone before us, producing reports and analyses on the topics discussed in this report. There are too many to mention here, but they are cited throughout the report and range from individual writers and scholars, such as Thomas Friedman and Richard Freeman, to committees and organizations, such as the Glenn Commission on K–12 education, the Council on Competitiveness, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Business Roundtable, the Taskforce on the Future of American Innovation, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the National Science Board, and other National Academies committees. Without their insight and analysis, this report would not have been possible.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by persons chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards of objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.

We wish to thank the following for their review of this report: Miller

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

Adams, Boeing Phantom Works; John Ahearne, Sigma Xi; Robert Aiken, CISCO Systems, Inc.; Bruce Alberts, University of California, San Francisco; Richard Atkinson, University of California, San Diego; William Badders, Cleveland Municipal School District; Roger Beachy, Ronald Danforth Plant Service Center; George Bugliarello, Polytechnic University; Paul Citron, Medtronic, Inc.; Michael Clegg, University of California, Irvine; W. Dale Compton, Purdue University; Robert Dynes, University of California, San Diego; Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Michigan State University; Richard Freeman, Harvard University; William Friend, Bechtel Group, Inc. (retired); Lynda Goff, University of California, Santa Cruz; William Happer, Princeton University; Robert Hauser, University of Wisconsin; Ron Hira, Rochester Insti-tute of Technology; Dale Jorgenson, Harvard University; Thomas Keller, Medomak Valley High School, Maine; Edward Lazowska, University of Washington; W. Carl Lineberger, University of Colorado, Boulder; James Mongan, Partners Healthcare System; Gilbert Omenn, University of Michigan; Helen Quinn, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; Mary Ann Rankin, University of Texas; Barbara Schaal, Washington University; Thomas Südhof, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Michael Teitelbaum, Sloan Foundation; C. Michael Walton, University of Texas; Larry Welch, Institute for Defense Analyses; and Sheila Widnall, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Floyd Bloom, Robert Frosch, and M. R. C. Greenwood, appointed by the Report Review Committee, who were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of the report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of the report rests entirely with the author committee and the institution.

Finally, we would like to thank the staff who supported this project, including Deborah Stine, study director and associate director of the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (COSEPUP), who managed the project; program officers Peter Henderson (higher education), Jo Husbands (national security), Thomas Arrison (innovation), Laurel Haak (K–12 education), and (on loan from the Council on Competitiveness) policy consultant David Attis (research funding and management), who conducted research and analysis; Alan Anderson, Steve Olson, and research associate Rachel Courtland, the science writers and editors for this report; Rita Johnson, the managing editor for reports; Norman Grossblatt and Kate Kelly, editors; Neeraj P. Gorkhaly, senior program assistant, who coordinated and provided support throughout the project with the assistance of

Page xvii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

Marion Ramsey and Judy Goss; science and technology policy fellows John Slanina, Benjamin Novak, and Ian Christensen who provided research and analytic support; Brian Schwartz, who compiled the bibliography; and Richard Bissell, executive director of COSEPUP and of Policy and Global Affairs. Additional thanks are extended to Rachel Marcus, Will Mason, Estelle Miller, and Francesca Moghari at the National Academies Press for their work on the production of this book.

Page xviii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

This page intentionally left blank.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
   

 Automobiles and Gasoline,

 

57

   

 Refrigeration,

 

58

   

 Agricultural Mechanization,

 

59

   

 Improving the Standard of Living,

 

59

   

 Electrification and Household Appliances,

 

60

   

 Transportation,

 

60

   

 Communication,

 

60

   

 Disaster Mitigation,

 

63

   

 Energy Conservation,

 

64

   

 Understanding How People Learn,

 

65

   

 Securing the Homeland,

 

66

   

 Conclusion,

 

67

3

 

HOW IS AMERICA DOING NOW IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?

 

68

   

 Science and Engineering Advantage,

 

70

   

 Other Nations Are Following Our Lead—and Catching Up,

 

72

   

 International Competition for Talent,

 

78

   

 Strains on Research in the Private Sector,

 

83

   

 Restraints on Public Funding,

 

89

   

 Expanded Mission for Federal Laboratories,

 

92

   

 Educational Challenges,

 

94

   

 K–12 Performance,

 

94

   

 Student Interest in Science and Engineering Careers,

 

98

   

 Balancing Security and Openness,

 

104

   

 Conclusion,

 

106

4

 

METHOD

 

107

   

 Review of Literature and Past Committee Recommendations,

 

108

   

 Focus Groups,

 

109

   

 Committee Discussion and Analysis,

 

109

   

 Cautions,

 

111

   

 Conclusion,

 

111

5

 

WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD AMERICA TAKE IN K–12 SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION TO REMAIN PROSPEROUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

 

112

   

 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds,

 

112

   

 Action A-1:  10,000 Teachers for 10 Million Minds,

 

115

   

 Action A-2:  A Quarter of a Million Teachers Inspiring Young Minds Every Day,

 

119

   

 Part 1: Summer Institutes,

 

120

   

 Part 2: Science and Mathematics Master’s Programs,

 

124

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
   

 Part 3: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Pre-AP/IB Education,

 

126

   

 Part 4: K–12 Curricular Materials Modeled on World-Class Standards,

 

128

   

 Action A-3:  Enlarge the Pipeline,

 

129

   

 Effective Continuing Programs,

 

131

   

 Conclusion,

 

133

6

 

WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD AMERICA TAKE IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH TO REMAIN PROSPEROUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

 

136

   

 Sowing the Seeds,

 

136

   

 Action B-1:  Funding for Basic Research,

 

136

   

 Action B-2:  Early-Career Researchers,

 

143

   

 Action B-3:  Advanced Research Instrumentation and Facilities,

 

145

   

 Action B-4:  High-Risk Research,

 

149

   

 Action B-5:  Use DARPA as a Model for Energy Research,

 

152

   

 Action B-6:  Prizes and Awards,

 

158

   

 Conclusion,

 

161

7

 

WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD AMERICA TAKE IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING HIGHER EDUCATION TO REMAIN PROSPEROUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

 

162

   

 Best and Brighest,

 

162

   

 Action C-1:  Undergraduate Education,

 

165

   

 Action C-2:  Graduate Education,

 

168

   

 Action C-3:  Continuing Education,

 

172

   

 Action C-4:  Improve Visa Processing,

 

173

   

 Action C-5:  Extend Visas and Expedite Residence Status of Science and Engineering PhDs,

 

175

   

 Action C-6:  Skill-Based Immigration,

 

177

   

 Action C-7:  Reform the Current System of “Deemed Exports,”

 

180

   

 Conclusion,

 

181

8

 

WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD AMERICA TAKE IN ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY TO REMAIN PROSPEROUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

 

182

   

 Incentives for Innovation,

 

182

   

 Action D-1:  Enhance the Patent System,

 

185

   

 Action D-2:  Strengthen the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit,

 

192

   

 Action D-3:  Provide Incentives for US-Based Innovation,

 

197

   

 Action D-4:  Ensure Ubiquitous Broadband Internet Access,

 

201

   

 Conclusion,

 

203

Page xxii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

9

 

WHAT MIGHT LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES BE LIKE IF IT IS NOT COMPETITIVE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?

 

204

   

 “The American Century,”

 

204

   

 New Global Innovation Economy,

 

206

   

 Emerging Markets,

 

206

   

 Innovation-Based Development,

 

208

   

 The Global Innovation Enterprise,

 

209

   

 The Emerging Global Labor Market,

 

210

   

 Aging and Entitlements,

 

212

   

 Scenarios for America’s Future in Science and Technology,

 

214

   

 Scenario 1: Baseline, America’s Narrowing Lead,

 

214

   

 Scenario 2: Pessimistic Case, America Falls Decisively Behind,

 

219

   

 Scenario 3: Optimistic Case, America Leads in Key Areas,

 

221

   

 Conclusion,

 

223

 

 

APPENDIXES

 

 

A

 

Committee and Professional Staff Biographic Information,

 

225

B

 

Statement of Task and Congressional Correspondence,

 

241

C

 

Focus-Group Sessions,

 

249

D

 

Issue Briefs,

 

301

   

 • K–12 Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education,

 

303

   

 • Attracting the Most Able US Students to Science and Engineering,

 

325

   

 • Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Education in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics,

 

342

   

 • Implications of Changes in the Financing of Public Higher Education,

 

357

   

 • International Students and Researchers in the United States,

 

377

   

 • Achieving Balance and Adequacy in Federal Science and Technology Funding,

 

397

   

 • The Productivity of Scientific and Technological Research,

 

415

   

 • Investing in High-Risk and Breakthrough Research,

 

423

   

 • Ensuring That the United States Is at the Forefront in Critical Fields of Science and Technology,

 

432

   

 • Understanding Trends in Science and Technology Critical to US Prosperity,

 

444

   

 • Ensuring That the United States Has the Best Environment for Innovation,

 

455

   

 • Scientific Communication and Security,

 

473

   

 • Science and Technology Issues in National and Homeland Security,

 

483

E

 

Estimated Recommendation Cost Tables,

 

501

F

 

K–12 Education Recommendations Supplementary Information,

 

513

G

 

Bibliography,

 

517

 

 

INDEX

 

537

Page xxiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

Boxes, Figures, and Tables

BOXES

1-1

 

Another Point of View: The World Is Not Flat,

 

24

2-1

 

Another Point of View: Science, Technology, and Society,

 

42

2-2

 

Twenty Great Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century,

 

44

3-1

 

Pasteur’s Quadrant,

 

69

3-2

 

Another Point of View: US Competitiveness,

 

73

5-1

 

Another Point of View: K–12 Education,

 

134

6-1

 

Another Point of View: Research Funding,

 

138

6-2

 

DARPA,

 

151

6-3

 

Another Point of View: ARPA-E,

 

153

6-4

 

Energy and the Economy,

 

155

6-5

 

The Invention of the Transistor,

 

157

6-6

 

Illustration of Energy Technologies,

 

159

7-1

 

Another Point of View: Science and Engineering Human Resources,

 

164

7-2

 

National Defense Education Act,

 

169

7-3

 

The 214b Provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act: Establishing the Intent to Return Home,

 

175

Page xxiv Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

8-1

 

Another Point of View: Innovation Incentives,

 

184

8-2

 

A Data-Exclusivity Case Study,

 

191

8-3

 

Finland,

 

198

8-4

 

South Korea,

 

198

8-5

 

Ireland,

 

199

8-6

 

Singapore,

 

199

8-7

 

Canada,

 

200

FIGURES

2-1

 

Incidence of selected diseases in the United States throughout the 20th century,

 

43

2-2

 

US farm labor productivity from 1800 to 2000,

 

46

2-3

 

Gross domestic product during the 20th century,

 

47

2-4

 

Number of patents granted by the United States in the 20th century with examples of critical technologies,

 

52

2-5

 

Megabyte prices and microprocessor speeds, 1976-2000,

 

52

2-6

 

Percentage of children ages 3 to 17 who have access to a home computer and who use the Internet at home, selected years, 1984-2001,

 

53

2-7A

 

Life expectancy at birth, 1000-2000,

 

53

2-7B

 

Life expectancy at birth and at 65 years of age, by sex, in the United States, 1901-2002,

 

54

2-8A

 

Five-year relative cancer survival rates for all ages, 1975-1979, 1985-1989, 1988-2001, and 1995-2001,

 

55

2-8B

 

Heart disease mortality, 1950-2002,

 

55

2-9A

 

Infant mortality, 1915-2000,

 

56

2-9B

 

Maternal mortality, 1915-2000,

 

56

2-10

 

Comparison of growth areas and air pollution emissions, 1970-2004,

 

58

2-11

 

Improvement in US housing and electrification of US homes during the 20th century,

 

61

2-12A

 

Ground transportation: horses to horsepower, 1900 and 1997,

 

62

2-12B

 

Air travel, United States, 1928-2002,

 

62

2-13

 

Modern communication, 1900-1998,

 

63

2-14

 

US primary energy use, 1950-2000,

 

65

3-1

 

R&D expenditures as a percentage of GNP, 1991-2002,

 

74

3-2

 

US patent applications, by country of applicant, 1989-2004,

 

75

3-3

 

Total science and engineering articles with international coauthors, 1988-2001,

 

75

3-4

 

Disciplinary strengths in the United States, the 15 European Union nations in the comparator group (EU15), and the United Kingdom,

 

76

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

3-5

 

United States trade balance for high-technology products, in millions of dollars, 1990-2003,

 

77

3-6

 

Science and engineering doctorate production for selected countries, 1975-2001,

 

79

3-7

 

Doctorates awarded by US institutions, by field and citizenship status, 1985-2003,

 

80

3-8

 

US S&E doctorates, by employment sector, 1973-2001,

 

84

3-9A

 

US R&D funding, by source of funds, 1953-2003,

 

85

3-9B

 

R&D shares of US gross domestic product, 1953-2003,

 

85

3-10

 

US venture capital disbursements, by stage of financing, 1992-2002,

 

87

3-11

 

Offshored services market size, in billions of dollars, 2003,

 

91

3-12

 

Department of Defense (DOD) 6.1 expenditures, in millions of constant 2004 dollars, 1994-2005,

 

92

3-13

 

Trends in federal research funding by discipline, obligations in billions of constant FY 2004 dollars, FY 1970-FY 2004,

 

93

3-14

 

Average scale NAEP scores and achievement-level results in mathematics, grades 4 and 8: various years, 1990-2005,

 

96

3-15

 

Percentage of students within and at or above achievement levels in science, grades 4, 8, and 12, 1996 and 2000,

 

97

3-16A

 

Percentage of 24-year-olds with first university degrees in the natural sciences or engineering, relative to all first university degree recipients, in 2000 or most recent year available,

 

99

3-16B

 

Percentage of 24-year-olds with first university degrees in the natural sciences or engineering relative to all 24-year-olds, in 2000 or most recent year available,

 

100

3-17

 

Science and engineering bachelor’s degrees, by field: selected years, 1997-2000,

 

101

5-1

 

UTeach minority enrollment, quality of undergraduate students in the certification recommendations program, student retention, and performance compared with all students in the UT-Austin College of Natural Sciences,

 

118

5-2

 

Professional development index relative to percent of students meeting science standards,

 

123

5-3

 

The number of AP examinations in mathematics, science, and English taken in APIP schools in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD),

 

133

6-1

 

Research and development shares of US gross domestic product, 1953-2003,

 

139

6-2

 

Trends in federal research funding by discipline, obligations in billions of constant FY 2004 dollars, FY 1970-FY 2004,

 

139

Page xxvi Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×

9-1

 

Projected growth of emerging markets for selected countries, in billions of constant 2003 US dollars, 2000-2050,

 

207

9-2

 

China and European Union production of science and engineering doctorates compared with US production, 1975-2010,

 

217

TABLES

2-1

 

Annual Rate of Return on Public R&D Investment,

 

48

2-2

 

Annual Rate of Return on Private R&D Investment,

 

49

2-3

 

Sales and Employment in the Information Technology (IT) Industry, 2000,

 

50

3-1

 

Publications and Citations in the United States and European Union per Capita and per University Researcher, 1997-2001,

 

74

3-2

 

Change in Applications, Admissions, and Enrollment of International Graduate Students, 2003-2005,

 

83

3-3

 

R&E Tax Claims and US Corporate Tax Returns, 1990-2001,

 

89

3-4

 

Federally and Privately Funded Early-Stage Venture Capital in Millions of Dollars, 1990-2002,

 

90

5-1

 

Students in US Public Schools Taught by Teachers with No Major or Certification in the Subject Taught, 1999-2000,

 

114

5-2

 

Six-Year Graduation Rate of Students Who Passed AP Examinations and Students Who Did Not Take AP Examinations,

 

131

5-3

 

Achievement of US AP Calculus and Physics Students Who Participated in the Trends in
International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2000 Compared with Average International Scores from 1995,

 

132

6-1

 

Specific Recommendations for Federal Research Funding,

 

142

6-2

 

Annual Number of PECASE Awards, by Agency, 2005,

 

146

8-1

 

Overview of R&D Tax Incentives in Other Countries,

 

195

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R1
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R2
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R3
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R4
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R5
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R6
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R7
Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R8
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R9
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R10
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R11
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R12
Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R13
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R14
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R15
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R16
Page xvii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R17
Page xviii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R18
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R19
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R20
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R21
Page xxii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R22
Page xxiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R23
Page xxiv Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R24
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R25
Page xxvi Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11463.
×
Page R26
Next: Executive Summary »
Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $64.95
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode. A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy:

1) Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education;

2) Sustain and strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research;

3) Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad; and

4) Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation.

Some actions will involve changing existing laws, while others will require financial support that would come from reallocating existing budgets or increasing them. Rising Above the Gathering Storm will be of great interest to federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, public decision makers, research sponsors, regulatory analysts, and scholars.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!