In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode.
A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy:1) Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education;2) Sustain and strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research;3) Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad; and4) Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation. Some actions will involve changing existing laws, while others will require financial support that would come from reallocating existing budgets or increasing them.
Rising Above the Gathering Storm will be of great interest to federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, public decision makers, research sponsors, regulatory analysts, and scholars. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 A Disturbing Mosaic2 Why Are Science and Technology Critical to America's Prosperityin the 21st Century?3 How Is America Doing Now in Science and Technology?4 Method5 What Actions Should America Take in K-12 Science and MathematicsEducation to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century?6 What Actions Should America Take in Science and EngineeringResearch to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century?7 What Actions Should America Take in Science and EngineeringHigher Education to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century?8 What Actions Should America Take in Economic and TechnologyPolicy to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century?9 What Might Life in the United States Be Like if It Is NotCompetitive in Science and Technology?Appendix A Committee and Professional Staff Biographic InformationAppendix B Statement of Task and Congressional CorrespondenceAppendix C Focus-Group SessionsAppendix D Issue BriefsK-12 Science, Mathematics, and Technology EducationAttracting the Most Able US Students to Science and EngineeringUndergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Education in Science,Engineering, and MathematicsImplications of Changes in the Financing of Public Higher EducationInternational Students and Researchers in the United StatesAchieving Balance and Adequacy in Federal Science and TechnologyFundingThe Productivity of Scientific and Technological ResearchInvesting in High-Risk and Breakthrough ResearchEnsuring That the United States Is at the Forefront in CriticalFields of Science and TechnologyUnderstanding Trends in Science and Technology Critical to USProsperityEnsuring That the United States Has the Best Environment forInnovationScientific Communication and SecurityScience and Technology Issues in National and Homeland SecurityAppendix E Estimated Recommendation Cost TablesAppendix F K-12 Education Recommendations Supplementary InformationAppendix G BibliographyIndex
