Restoring the Foundation: The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream

/ CSA Executive Director

The US is failing to keep pace with competitors' investments in R&D. Among OECD nations, the US ranks tenth in R&D intensity (national R&D investment as a percentage of GDP). Image: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The US is failing to keep pace with competitors' investments in R&D. Among OECD nations, the US ranks tenth in R&D intensity (national R&D investment as a percentage of GDP). Image: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

“Restoring the Foundation: The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream” is a 154-page report released by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) that reinforces many of the findings and recommendations of the 2005 report “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.”

The earlier report focused on the causes of America’s dwindling leadership in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and ways of “energizing and employing America for a brighter future.” It was sponsored by the US Congress and written by a distinguished committee headed by Norman Augustine, former CEO of Lockheed Martin and Undersecretary of the US Army. (Editor’s note: See Cold Facts, Winter 2011, pages 14-16, for an interview with Augustine on the update to that report.)

At the September introduction of “Restoring the Foundation,” there was strong consensus that it is absolutely vital that this report be given wide circulation and that the AAAS and committee members work diligently to implement its recommendations. Since then, the Academy has implemented a multilayered approach to build support for the report’s recommendations among stakeholders in government, industry, academia and philanthropy. Among the project’s ongoing efforts are collaborations with scientific and business organizations; media outreach; conversations with leaders in Congress and at federal research agencies; and forums, roundtable discussions and symposia at universities and public halls across the nation.

Norman Augustine, co-chair of the report committee

Norman Augustine, co-chair of the report committee

Dr. Neal Lane, co-chair of the report committee

Dr. Neal Lane, co-chair of the report committee

An op-ed piece from “Restoring the Foundation” committee members and Nobel laureates Tom Cech and Steven Chu ran in the Wall Street Journal. An online essay was authored by Augustine, Lane and Duke University Dean of Medicine Nancy Andrews.

A workshop on national laboratory partnerships was held in Chicago in November and two public symposia were scheduled for February. “Replenishing the Innovation Pipeline: the Role of University Research,” was held at Stanford University on February 3, featuring Ann Arvin (Stanford), Jonathan Fanton (AAAS president), Peter Kim and Carla Shatz (both Stanford).

A symposium was planned for February 24 at Duke University entitled “The Unstable Biomedical Research Ecosystem: How Can It Be Made More Robust?” Participants were Andrews (Duke), Tania Baker (MIT), Richard Brodhead (president, Duke), Fanton, Mark Fishman (president, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research), Sally Kornbluth (Duke), Harold Varmus (director, National Cancer Institute) and Susan Wente (provost, Vanderbilt University).

Other workshops and symposia are being planned and meetings are being arranged with members of Congress from both major parties to discuss the report and explore possible mechanisms for bipartisan cooperation on research issues.

Download a copy of this report or watch a video of the testimony at the introduction ceremony.

Committee members and AAAS president Fanton meeting with NGO leaders on the report rollout day.

Committee members and AAAS president Fanton meeting with NGO leaders on the report rollout day.

Middle right, participants at the roundtable on national laboratory partnerships held in Chicago in November. Left to right: US Representative Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Lane (hidden), Fanton, US Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Chief Operating Officer Tim Meyer, Fermilab scientist Pushpa Bhat and Argonne National Laboratory Director for Strategy and Innovation Gregory Morin.

Middle right, participants at the roundtable on national laboratory partnerships held in Chicago in November. Left to right: US Representative Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Lane (hidden), Fanton, US Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Chief Operating Officer Tim Meyer, Fermilab scientist Pushpa Bhat and Argonne National Laboratory Director for Strategy and Innovation Gregory Morin.

Bottom right, former congressman Bart Gordon, Augustine, Lane (at podium), seated with microphone, former congressman Rush Holt, with Fanton behind him.

Bottom right, former congressman Bart Gordon, Augustine, Lane (at podium), seated with microphone, former congressman Rush Holt, with Fanton behind him.