Update: National Science Policy Study

Last week, Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Michigan) held a one hour briefing on the status of his National Science Policy study. Ehlers chairs a House Science Committee effort to “conduct a review of our national science policy and develop a new long-range science and technology policy that is concise, comprehensive, and coherent.”

Ehlers began by discussing his three overall objectives: serving as a liaison to the science community (saying it had “gone well”), heading the policy study, and doing a review of science education (which will occur next year.)

Ehlers said the science policy study is proceeding “reasonably well,” adding that while it entails much work he hopes it would be finished this year “if at all possible.” The congressman identified the two staffers assigned to the study.

Scoping and writing this study will require a careful hand. Ehlers seeks to make this “concise, comprehensive, and coherent” study encompass all of science, yet later said it would remain within the the Science Committee’s jurisdiction. The committee does not generally exercise jurisdiction over all types of federal R&D spending -- such as defense, medical, and agricultural research. Ehlers indicated that eventually he would work with the science committee’s subcommittee chairs. He does not anticipate that the study will comment on specific projects, but will instead provide a mechanism for setting priorities.

Looking ahead, Ehlers anticipates that the study will probably result in a resolution (which is different from a bill that could result in a law) that would be adopted somehow by the Congress, and supported by the White House. There has not been much contact with the Senate, a situation he hopes to change (noting that the lead staffer came from the Senate.) He asked for help in “selling” the new policy to the Congress, White House, and the general public. Asked about an effort by the National Science Board to review science policy, he said there was “good conjunction all the way around...all the pieces are in place.”

Ehlers said that scientists “should be very grateful for the support you get from Congress.” Generally, he added, this support is more than that which the public gives. “Somehow the word has to get out” to the public, Ehlers urged, about the importance of science.

The science policy staff has scheduled six hearings between March 3 and April 22 on topics including “defining a science and technology vision,” science education, partnerships/collaboration, international science, and “funding sources for research.” Dates and a brief statement describing each of these hearings can be found on its web site at http://www.house.gov/science/science_policy_study.htm

Ehlers told the audience that he is “really very, very interested in getting your input.” In a section on the above web site entitled “We Need Your Help” several issue areas are listed. The science community is also asked to provide information on the hearing topics. Given the magnitude of what Rep. Ehlers and his staff want to accomplish, individuals responding to Ehlers’ invitation should bear in mind an observation made on the study’s web site: “Remember, the more we have to read, the greater the risk we’ll miss your key conclusions!”