Two articles in today's issue of Science sum up the expectations of the scientific community for Congress and the Obama administration.
Just a few (glaringly obvious and endlessly re-hashed) bits of policy change to which I look forward:
- Reversal of the arbitrary and infuriating ban on embryonic stem cell research:
Stem cell researchers are confident that Obama will act swiftly on his promise to reverse President George W. Bush's policy of restricting federal funding for research on human ES cells to lines derived before 9 August 2001. Science lobbyists are shooting for a two-pronged attack: a speedy executive order, followed by legislation that would allow federally funded researchers to work with any lines derived from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. Bush vetoed such legislation twice. But Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) already has a new version ready. Introduced in the waning days of this Congress, it would allow research to be conducted on human ES cells "regardless of the date" they were derived and require the Department of Health and Human Services to issue research guidelines.
- Creating a new, higher ranking position to the advise the president on matters scientific:
At the top of the list for many is the early appointment of a science adviser with the additional title of assistant to the president. (The current adviser, John Marburger, wasn't nominated until June 2001 and ranks a step below assistant on the White House pecking order.) Those actions would be a sign that the president-elect recognizes the importance of science to the country, says Ralph Cicerone, president of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. "The world still loves and respects U.S. science, and it can be an instrument of good will--and good policies," says Cicerone. "When we wrote to both campaigns this summer, we did not say, 'Put more money into science.' What we said is that they need science to govern effectively."
- Making good on the promise to double funding for basic reearch over the next decade:
Scientists haven't forgotten about money, of course--especially Obama's campaign pledge to double federal spending for basic research over the next decade. University and research lobbyists are hoping the new president's backing, combined with strong bipartisan support, will help them achieve the ramp-up in funding for the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology that's authorized in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 but that has been an empty promise so far.
Some help could come as early as next week, during a lame-duck session of the outgoing Congress, if Democratic leaders and Republican Bush can agree on a short-term stimulus package. There's an outside chance that the package could include something to shore up the nation's research infrastructure in the current 2009 fiscal year, which runs through 30 September. "Funding for the COMPETES Act is still a high priority, whether it gets done in a stimulus package for 2009 or as part of next year's [2010] budget," says Robert Berdahl, president of the 62-member Association of American Universities in New York City. "The point is that none of the goals of the new Administration--on energy, on the economy, on climate change--can be realized without an increased investment in science."
With a federal deficit that could hit $1 trillion next year, however, such an investment is a hard sell. "Mr. Obama has promised so many things, but they all cost money," says Representative Vern Ehlers (R-MI), one of the most insistent voices for research and education in Congress. Still, Ehlers says that adequate funding for the COMPETES Act is his top priority, too.
Yeah, well, I realize the implications of that last paragraph might throw a monkey wrench into the growth of basic resarch, but one can hope.
Funding aside, as a scientist and disgusted observer of Washington over the past 8 years, at least we can all be gratified that our President-elect doesn't have the same fear, mistrust, and outright contempt for the scientific community that the current occupant does.
Given the appropriate circumstances, I think he might even listen to someone like me, who works on fruit flies...I kid you not.