On Oct. 31, a Task Force of 60 high-profile individuals in science, business and academia was formed, to prepare a vision for U.S. Science and Technology. Much of this came out of Marcia McNutt’s June speech as head of the National Academy of Sciences, which outlined the decline of the U.S.in the area of science and technology, and contrasted it with the major push in science and technology by the People’s Republic of China. McNutt is one of the individuals included in this task force, along with university presidents, academics, and business leaders.
In their statement, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) quotes the Task Force saying: “Recognizing we must act now to build the S&T enterprise of the future and ensure the United States remains at the forefront of global innovation, this Task Force is working to identify opportunities and challenges facing the enterprise; assess the steps needed to ensure the enterprise can meet incoming challenges in an increasingly competitive world; and lay out actions that will best position the United States for future prosperity.
“The Vision is being informed by critical insights from Task Force members—ranging from university presidents to industry innovators to former federal and state policymakers, and beyond—and with an array of scientific societies, coalitions, and federal agencies. The Task Force is an initiative of the non-partisan Science and Technology Action Committee, a group of non-profit, academic, foundation, and corporate leaders working to dramatically strengthen U.S. science and technology.
“During the upcoming presidential transition period, leaders of the Task Force plan to share a draft of the Vision with the incoming administration and Congress to ensure it is actionable. A final version of the Vision for American Science and Technology will be released in February 2025.”
