Europe plays catch-up to Obama’s science drive
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.023186
New Scientist : Obama has gone even further than previous presidents in appointing top scientists into executive roles. Stephen Chu, Nobel laureate in physics, is the secretary of energy, running a $24 billion department. The distinguished environmental scientist Jane Lubchenco is to head the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. In both advice and leadership, Obama has put scientists at the heart of his administration.
This deserves celebration, but it should also serve as a wake-up call to the European Union. When comparing ourselves with the recalcitrant Bush administration, it wasn’t hard to look good. Europe could justly claim to be leading the world with its sound scientific basis for policies on such vital matters as climate change, food, water and energy.
