America at a Tipping Point: Science & Technology Opportunities for the Biden Administration
The U.S. faces growing international competition and mounting challenges to its innovation enterprise following years of modest science and technology investment. On September 30, 2020, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy released a joint report, “Perils of Complacency: America at a Tipping Point in Science and Engineering,” detailing the myriad issues the U.S. scientific environment faces with regards to STEM education, workforce development, diversity and underrepresentation of minorities, funding and federal regulations. The “Perils of Complacency” report also delineates actionable recommendations with a particular focus on the vital need for sustainable growth in federal funding for fundamental science and engineering research.
At this webinar, John Hennessy, former president of Stanford University and chairman of the board of directors for Alphabet Inc., and Norman Augustine, retired CEO and chairman of Lockheed Martin, discussed the policies that the incoming administration can enact to address the issues and recommendations highlighted in the “Perils of Complacency” report and to strengthen the American research enterprise. Neal Lane, Baker Institute senior fellow in science and technology policy, moderated this event.