PRINT EDITION
A Nation of Science From The Very Beginning
The impetus for Science Progress is the sense within the scientific community that, at many levels, American science policy has lost its way.
HEALTH CARE
Living Longer, But Living Better?
Elderly Americans are growing in number, which means we need to act quickly to improve the quality of long-term care in our country.
CLIMATE
Our Dying Oceans
A growing body of research demonstrates that global waters are absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide, threatening species at the bottom of the food chain. So why are we still paying so little attention to climate change’s elephant in the room?
BIOSECURITY
The “What if?” of Dual-Use Research Awareness
A clear set of policy guidelines for reporting biosecurity concerns in research labs is clearly in order. Here are some suggestions.
Igniting Cellulosic Biofuel Production
To produce biofuels that reduce carbon emissions and do not compete with food crops, biofuel producers need to scale up production of cellulosic biofuels, particularly those made from waste materials and crops that do not compete with food.
Innovation and Immigration
We can spur scientific innovation by revising our green card immigration policy for highly educated foreigners studying in the United States.
A Ray of Hope for the Fractured FDA
In response to recent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, including salmonella-contaminated tomatoes, the Bush administration has asked Congress to add $275 million to the proposed 2009 budget of $2.4 billion for the Food and Drug Administration. But the patch won’t fix a fractured food safety system.
CLIMATE
A Peace Over Climate Science?
Now even the Bush administration basically admits that it misused and suppressed global warming information and the scientists who purvey it. Is the battle finally over?
Time for a Renaissance of Reason
Rick Weiss argues that the orderly and unbiased testing of reality to see how things actually work—the art and science of science—has ever been the engine of better health, higher productivity and greater economic power, not to mention enhanced entertainment and leisure-time options. It is something of a wonder, he writes, that so many today eschew it, and so openly.
FDA Redraws the Rules for International Drug Trials
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently decided to no longer hold pharmaceutical companies to the standards of the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki while conducting human drug trials. The change poses bioethical dilemmas when U.S. companies conduct trials on foreign soil. Merrill Goozner is currently reporting from Russia, which could become “ground zero” for discussion about the shift in policy.
Washington Post Science Reporter Rick Weiss Joins CAP, Science Progress
Kicking off an auspicious week at Science Progress that will culminate in our first public event, the Center for American Progress just announced that former Post reporter Rick Weiss is joining CAP as a Senior Fellow.
Science and Technology Policy Events Next Week
After a brief hiatus, we return with roundup of some of the science and technology policy events happening around Washington D.C. from June 9 to June 13. Don’t forget our first Science Progress event, “Science Is the Stuff of Progress,” on June 13, where we’ll launch our first printed edition.
The Interpretation of Genes
What do researchers and clinicians actually need to understand about a gene in order to diagnose and treat patients? Play-by-play from a lively discussion on the state of genetics at the World Science Festival.
This Is Your Sarcastic Brain. Yeah, Right.
Anyone who has ever parented a 13-year-old human female knows this already: There is a sarcasm neural system, and its appearance must be associated with early adolescence. So far only the first assertion has been confirmed by neuroscience.
Space Policy
Mission Critical Jobs
When the Shuttle program closes down in 2010, manned space flight from the United States will end for at least five years, leaving thousands of highly skilled aerospace industry workers without a mission to serve. That shouldn’t be allowed to happen.
Save the Fish: Stop Ocean Acidification
The House Committee on Science and Technology will host a hearing tomorrow on the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act and efforts to curtail ocean acidification.
COMMUNICATING SCIENCE
Media Matters
The World Science Festival in New York City was a huge success—and that’s because it garnered attention that ranged far beyond coverage in traditional science media outlets. But to communicate science broadly, there’s still a long way to go.
CLIMATE
Looking Beyond Carbon
Though well understood, the challenges presented by the changing nitrogen cycle remain under-appreciated. A global integrated approach will be needed to mitigate its future impacts on the climate, ecosystem biodiversity, and human health.
Brookings Report: Metropolitan Areas Have Less Carbon Emissions
Metropolitan areas are more energy-efficient than areas of less-dense development, according to a new analysis from the Brookings Institution; they also have smaller per-capita carbon emissions. Here’s a new mashup comparing the per-capita transportation emissions across the 100 metro areas in the study.
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What We Work On
Science, Innovation, and Competitiveness
Science Progress and American Progress's Doing What Works project teamed up to produce a set of policy proposals that the Obama administration and Congress can adopt to reinvest in the building blocks of American science, innovation, and economic competitiveness. Read the overview of the five reports.
What We Believe
Science Progress proceeds from the propositions that scientific inquiry is among the finest expressions of human excellence, that it is a crucial source of human flourishing, a critical engine of economic growth, and must be dedicated to the common good. Scientific inquiry entails global responsibilities. It should lead to a more equitable, safer, and healthier future for all of humankind.