In Their Words: Notable Science and Technology Quotes from 1996

In closing out this year, we offer some of the notable science and technology policy statements of 1996:

“This is a time for defending all of science, not particular fields and institutions. This is a time for articulating the benefits our nation has received from its investments in science and scientists.” -- Martha Krebs, Director of DOE Office of Energy Research (FYI #3, January)

“There used to be a civility. Today they would almost rather destroy another member than compromise. The camaraderie is destroyed.” -- Rep. John Myers (R-IN) in announcing his retirement (FYI #7, January)

“My message to you today is that if you don’t take it as one of your professional responsibilities to inform your fellow citizens about the importance of the science and technology enterprise, then that public support, critical to sustaining it, isn’t going to be there.” -- NSF Director Neal Lane in remarks to AAS (FYI #9, January)

”...the FY 1996 budget was a de facto decision to end U.S. leadership [in fusion energy.]” -- Robert Conn, Fusion Energy Advisory Committee Chairman (FYI #15, January)

”...scientific concepts sometimes elude the vast majority of elected officials. Lack of scientific understanding undercuts support for the pursuit of further understanding, which fosters deeper ignorance, which in turns further erodes support for battling that ignorance. It’s a vicious cycle.” -- Vice President Al Gore in addressing AAAS (FYI #24, February)

“A lot of my constituency does not recognize what NSF is doing.” -- Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) (FYI #38, March)

“The U.S. Department of Energy is a Science Agency.” -- DOE Press Kit on Budget Request (FYI #49, March)

“The science community is going to have to make its voice heard if it is going to be treated fairly.” -- Rep. Steven Schiff (R-NM) at hearing on NSF (FYI #65, April)

”...we’re going to build the space station no matter what.” -- NASA Director Daniel Goldin at appropriations hearing on his agency’s request. (FYI #69, April)

”...anyone whose ever worked on the Federal budget-setting exercise knows that the year 2002 might as well be a century away for all our ability to predict the details of federal spending that far out....” -- OSTP Director John Gibbons (FYI #71, May)

”...lack of funding does not mean you’re not doing good work.” -- Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY) during appropriations hearing on NIST budget request (FYI #76, May)

“The tenor of the policy debate has now changed within the Congress and the science community as the emphasis has shifted from industrial policy to basic research and from status quo subsidies to new knowledge.” -- Rep. Robert Walker (R-PA) during science committee consideration of omnibus authorization bill (FYI #94, June)

“This distinction between basic and applied research is at the heart of the Republican proposal, and yet it is a distinction entirely without relevance [in] the real world.” -- Rep. George Brown (D-CA) during above hearing (FYI #94, June)

”...access to orbit today costs roughly $10,000 for each pound of payload. This enormous expense is at least ten times too much, and is choking off the scientific and commercial potential of our national space program.” -- NASA Administrator Goldin at science committee hearing (FYI #98, June)

“Federal funding for university-based research is an investment in our future that should be maintained.” -- Letter to President Clinton signed by 60 Nobelists (FYI #101, June)

”...in this budget we have maintained an effort in high-energy physics, nuclear physics, biological and environmental research second to none in the world.... America is the leader there, and we should continue to be the leader.” -- Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) in introducing DOE appropriations bill (FYI #120, August)

“Today, rock 84001 speaks to us across all those billions of years and millions of miles. It speaks of the possibility of life. If this discovery is confirmed, it will surely be one of the most stunning insights into our universe that science has ever uncovered.” -- President Clinton during Martian Meteorite Announcement (FYI #122, August)

“When I took office, only high energy physicists had ever heard of what is called the Worldwide Web.... Now even my cat has its own page.” -- President Clinton during announcement of Next Generation Internet initiative. (FYI #145, October)

”...basic research is in trouble in this country.” -- Nobelist Robert Curl during press conference. (FYI #150, October)