Most of you will remember Obama's mention
of
the maker movement in his inaugural address. Now he's not only
mentioned makers again but specifically called
on the National Academy of Sciences to consider robotics
competitions as one of several methods to inspire American students
to pursue science and engineering.
"Think about new and creative ways to engage young people in
science and engineering, like science festivals, robotics competitions,
and fairs that encourage young people to create, build, and invent -- to
be makers of things, not just consumers of things."
Needless to say, the folks at
Make are pretty happy too. The current president has brought
quite a
change for those interested in science. He's reversed many of the
previous administration's anti-science
initiatives, issuing a memorandum
calling for scientific integrity. At the NAS meeting he announced a
major initiative to "boost research funding and bolster math and
science education" which calls for at least 3 percent
of the GDP to go toward funding basic science research, reversing the
decline of recent years. To hear a mention of robotics on
top of all that is very cool indeed. The full text of Obama's
remarks to the NAS can be found online. Image above by flickr
user NAS
Dang, I was hoping for a story about robotic teleprompters!
All Presidents mention programs like this.
By 'reversal of anti-science initiatives', you may be talking
about programs that force tax-payers to pay for 'science'
programs they philosophically oppose.
Even though we may disagree on many of those, you should at
least be able to accept their position as sincere and not
a Neanderthalic attempt to quench all mighty science.
Let's apply the mantra diversity and tolerance to this topic too.
The decline you mention is probably in federal spending
on science, but that I applaud. Centralization and the
politicization that follows is not conducive to progress.
I want to tinker in my small lab till midnight, not work
for the federal government with umpteen paid vacation days.
The problem is not a lack of federal spending and control
in our country, in science or elsewhere.
Now, if we can just get a 'memorandum' calling for integrity
of our pubic officials, I'll be excited!
ha, but how long has it been since we had a president who could mention
stuff like this using complete sentences and pronouncing all the words
correctly!
I bet many of them sincerely believed Neaderthals didn't exist, because
we only know about them through scientific research. So let's say it was
a bronze-age attempt to quench science. :)
The LHC cost what, 6 billion euros? Projects like that are incredibly
important and I don't know any lone inventors tinkering in their garage
who can afford to do that sort of research. So I'll have to disagree
when you suggest governments shouldn't spend money on science.
Except that speaking skills can be a contra-indicator of integrity in the political world.
Are you sure "many" people think Neanderthals didn't exist? Did you hear that on the Diane Rehm show? :)
I didn't say the federal government shouldn't spend money on science. Please reread.
del.icio.us
Digg
Google bookmark
reddit
Simpy
StumbleUpon
Furl
Newsvine
Technorati
Tailrank