WHITE HOUSE RELEASES NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY REPORT

August 3, 1994 -- In a report on national science policy released by the
White House today, President Clinton and Vice President Gore called for
investment in science as a national priority, and linked scientific
research and education to national goals and the future well-being of the
country.

"The return from our public investment in fundamental sci- ence has been
enormous. The principal sponsors and beneficiaries are the American
people," said President Clinton. "Our scientific investments are an
important national resource which we must sustain and build on for the
future."

The science policy report, "Science in the National Interest," is the first
major post-Cold War review of national science policy by the White House,
and the first formal Presidential statement on science policy since 1979.
The report represents the Administration's vision and roadmap for putting
science to work on behalf of a broadened set of national goals to benefit
the American people: health, prosperity, national security, environmental
responsibility, and improved quality of life.

The report, which was released by the Vice President at a White House
ceremony, presents a new view of fundamental science research and
technological advances as interdependent elements that underpin the
nation's economy. "Today's science and technology enterprise is more like
an ecosystem than a production line," said Vice President Gore.
"Technology is the engine of economic growth; science fuels technology's
engine."

The Vice President acknowledged that the new focus on a broadened set of
post-Cold War goals will require the most efficient and effective use of
scarce resources. "Over the long term, U.S. investment in fundamental
research must be commensurate with our national goals," he said.

The document proposes a series of actions to meet five broad goals for
world leadership in science, mathematics and engineer- ing:

* Maintain leadership across the frontiers of scientific
  knowledge;
* Enhance connections between fundamental research and national
  goals;
* Stimulate government, industry, and academic partnerships that
  promote investment in fundamental science and engineering and
  effective use of physical, human, and financial resources;
* Produce the finest scientists and engineers for the
  twenty-first century;
* Raise the scientific and technology literacy of all Americans.

The report calls for full and equal participation of all Americans, as both
contributors to and benefactors of the nation's scientific investment, and
recommends a number of actions to increase diversity in the science and
technology workforce. "America derives great strength from its diversity,
yet the country has not had a coherent policy for developing all our human
resources for science and technology," said Gore. He underscored the
importance of role models and mentoring by an- nouncing a new Presidential
awards program to recognize such activities at the state and local level.

The report also calls on scientists to become directly and actively
involved in the "critically important national chal- lenge" to increase
literacy and to meet the Administration's "Goals 2000" education agenda.
"Our economic strength will de- pend more than ever on the ability of the
American people to deal with new challenges and rapid change," said Vice
President Gore. "Our scientific community must contribute more strongly to
broad public understanding of scientific issues and information."

Highlighting an emphasis on partnerships, the policy calls for the
"creative participation of industry and academia" in helping to ensure the
prosperity, security and social well-being of the nation. At the same
time, the policy acknowledges that the societal applications of
fundamental science are not always immediately apparent and require
sustained support to yield benefits. "We must not allow a short-term focus
to limit the long-term potential benefits," said Vice President Gore.

"These policies and actions are significant steps in a proactive, ongoing
process," said the President's Science Advisor, John Gibbons, who joined
the Vice President for the release of the report. "This vision belongs to
the many agencies and institutions which will use it as a roadmap to the
future. But more importantly, it belongs to the American people, whose
support is essential if we are to build a secure foundation for our nation
and our children."

The 31-page policy document, as issued by President Clinton's National
Science and Technology Council, is available for electronic dissemination
on FedWorld and through the Internet at whitehouse.gov, sunsite.unc.edu,
and other major online sites.

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An ASCII copy of the policy document without the examples, sidebars and
illustrations is available for downloading from our information library
area on America Online and Delphi!
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