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Researchers urged to push for federal funds
11:49 a.m., March 7, 2007--Researchers must get involved in efforts to increase government research funds for physical sciences and engineering in order to reverse three decades of declining funds and equip the U.S. to remain competitive in science leadership and the creation of high-tech jobs, Steve Pierson, head of government relations for the American Physical Society (APS), said during a recent colloquium sponsored by UD's Department of Physics and Astronomy. “As a country, we can only be effective if we work together. It's going to take a very broad coalition to make it possible,” Pierson said in his talk, “China and India: A New Sputnik? Federal Funding for Physical Sciences Research.” Pierson said that while funding for research life sciences has increased dramatically, federal research funding for physical sciences and engineering has been “pretty flat” since the 1970s and the U.S. risks lagging behind countries like China, Ireland, Israel, Singapore and South Korea in research and development investment. “Just as Sputnik in 1957 launched a huge research and development effort in the U.S., can the trend in India, China and South Korea do the same?” Pierson asked. “The argument is not why Congress should increase funding, but why they can't afford not to.” Pierson said the changing trend is illustrated by the growing number of doctoral degrees awarded to scientists and engineers in Asia from 1990-2003 while the U.S. numbers have remained flat. “We have relied on attracting the best from around the world and trying to keep them here,” Pierson said. “What it shows is that we can't keep doing that.” Citing Rising above the Gathering Storm, a report requested by Congress and prepared by a committee that included university presidents and chief executive officers of major corporations, Pierson said U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology are facing stiff competition from other countries. In its executive summary, the report states: “Having reviewed trends in the United States and abroad, the committee is deeply concerned that the scientific and technological building blocks critical to our economic leadership are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength. We strongly believe that a worldwide strengthening will benefit the world's economy--particularly in the creation of jobs in countries that are far less well off than the United States. But we are worried about the future prosperity of the United States.” Pierson said the report outlines various actions that can be taken to reverse the trend by creating high-quality jobs and focusing on new science and technology efforts and also makes four major recommendations:
Pierson commended two bipartisan proposals, “The Innovation Agenda” and “American Competitiveness Initiative,” for recognizing the need for increased funding, but he cautioned that a convoluted legislative process often leads to minimal real increases and deep cuts in some areas as different interests fight for funds in the budget. The APS strategy, Pierson said, is to emphasize to legislators the importance of increased funding, efforts that have greater impact when researchers add their voices. To that end, Pierson urged researchers to participate in APS alerts to write to their respective congressional delegations. “Be involved,” Pierson said. “These alerts take only a minute, but they do a lot.” Article by Martin Mbugua |
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