Science Policy News
Science in the Presidential Campaign
and the Obama Administration
steve Pierson, AsA Director of science Policy
Indeed, both candidates were expressing support
for science in 2007 campaign appearances. Standing
in front of a sign reading “reclaiming our commit-
ment to science and technology,” Clinton vowed
to end the war on science, citing that it was about
more than security and the economy. “It is about
democracy,” she said.
For his part, Obama replied to a question about
science policy, saying, “We’ve seen a decline in real
dollar terms in our investment in science and tech-
nology at precisely the time in which our economy
is going to ultimately be dependent on our abil-
ity to maintain our technological edge.” He then
pledged to significantly increase funding for NIH
and NSF, honor science’s independence, and rein-
vigorate K–12 education in science and technol-
ogy. Obama noted that his first visit to the Google
campus in 2004 was inspiration for the chapter
on innovation in his second book, The Audacity
of Hope.
Obama reiterated his support for science, inno-
vation, and technology in late 2007, addressing an
A
long, intense presidential campaign is final-
ly behind us and a new president is ahead.
audience at Google’s Mountain View campus, say-
Science arguably had a higher profile in the
ing, “We can use technology to help achieve univer-
2008 campaign than in any other modern presiden-
sal health care, to reach for a clean energy future, and
tial campaign, and President-elect Barack Obama
to ensure that young Americans compete and win in
emerged as the most vocal pro-science president
the global economy. … If America recommits itself
elected in recent times. What does this mean for
to science and innovation, we can lead the world to
science research funding and science policy? Does it
a new future of productivity and prosperity.”
present opportunities for statisticians?
After winning the Pennsylvania primary on April
22, 2008, Clinton promised, “We will end the war
Science in the Campaign on science and have a renewed commitment to sci-
Looking back at the campaigns, science entered
ence and research.”
relatively early and often, albeit with a low pro-
Obama’s support for science continued through
file and mostly via democratic candidates. Both
the rest of his campaign, including during a debate
Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton had “innova-
with Sen. John McCain. (Obama’s support has con-
tion agendas”—in the same spirit as the National
tinued into the transition. During his December 7
Academies’ “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”
appearance on Meet the Press, he said he would be
report, Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s Innovation Agenda,
interested in having lectures on science in the White
and President George W. Bush’s American
House.) While I found no mention of science fund-
Competitiveness Initiative—in which, among
ing in any of McCain’s speeches, his campaign issued
many ‘innovation’ profiles, they promised to dou-
statements pledging full funding of the America
ble spending for basic research.
COMPETES Act, which is essentially the legislative
enactment of the “Gathering Storm” report.
JANUARy 2009 AMsTAT NeWs 15
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