Saturday, December 20, 2008

To Invest in Things Unseen

In his Saturday YouTube (above)/radio address, PE Barack Obama talked about the role of science and named important members of his science team. (Full transcript here.)

He praised "leaders who not only invested in our scientists but respected the integrity of the scientific process. Because the truth is that promoting science isn’t just about providing resources – it’s about protecting free and open inquiry. It’s about ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology. It’s about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient. Because the highest purpose of science is the search for knowledge, truth and a greater understanding of the world around us."

Obama announced energy and climate physicist John Holdren as his White House Science advisor, and marine biologist Jane Lubchenco as head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Both are climate experts. Holdren also will direct the president's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology. Joining him as co-chairs will be Nobel Prize-winning scientist Harold Varmus, a former director of the National Institutes of Health, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Eric Lander, a specialist in human genome research." (NYT)

Obama concluded:

"I am confident that if we recommit ourselves to discovery; if we support science education to create the next generation of scientists and engineers right here in America; if we have the vision to believe and invest in things unseen, then we can lead the world into a new future of peace and prosperity."

No comments: