- Legislation Introduced to Codify Stem Cell Rules
- Commissioner Enhances FDA’s Commitment to Personalized Medicine
- Perfecting Policy on Stem Cells
- NIH and FDA Aim to Retool Regulatory Science
- DOE Leads Federal Funding for a Regional Innovation Cluster
- Certainty on the Science of Climate Change
- They’re Not Perfect Cells, But They’re Model Cells
- Genomic Medicine on the March
- President’s Budget Aims to Recharge Regional Innovation
- Event: The Science of Climate Change
- Progress in Bioethics
- The Top Science Progress Features of 2009
- March 2010
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- November 2009
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The Dish: Sampling Today’s News – January 16, 2008
Twenty four scientists left their lab benches to visit Capitol Hill and voice their concerns over what they call “the systematic dismantling of the Endangered Species Act through the manipulation and suppression of science.” Their beef lies with Department of Interior officials who purposely changed reports advocating habitat preservation to favor industry interests. Scientists met with Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett who petitioned officials to investigate past decisions that may have potentially been tainted by undue influence.
How is science doing in America? The National Science Board, the oversight agency of the National Science Foundation (NSF) released its biennial report on the state of science and engineering research and education in the U.S. According to the report, the United States is still the leader in scientific and technological innovation but the gap is closing quickly as Asian countries ramp up their science and engineering efforts. To keep the innovation ball rolling, the NSB recommends expanding science funding and increasing “intellectual exchange” between academia and industry.
Science magazine recently interviewed embattled Department of Energy Undersecretary Raymond Orbach on the state of physics research in the United States. The DOE’s Office of Science endured cuts to proposed budget increases in the new Congressional spending bill, and many in the scientific community are wondering what the future holds for physical science research. He discusses the status of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the U.S. involvement in the International Linear Collider, and the funding prospects for physical sciences in the 2009 budget.
Robert Palazzo argues in The Scientist that the United States is in danger of losing its leadership role in biotechnology innovation if it continues to scale back support of research. By flat-funding the NIH and other programs, foreign scientists will end up returning to their home countries where, increasingly, more resources are becoming available. In addition, scientists are forced to spend more time writing grants competing for funding than devoting their time to research and innovation. In light of greater international collaboration in science, the United States needs to reaffirm its commitment to life science programs if it hopes to continue leading the way in progress and improving the quality of life around the world.
You have a new tool to track the pulse of science reporting. The Columbia Journalism Review announced the launch of the The Observatory, a department whose sole purpose is to track and critique press coverage of science and the environment. Built on the mounting national discussions of climate change, stem cells, and public health, the new department hopes to improve national discourse by improving the quality of science journalism in the media and on the Internet.
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