Special report: Science issues are prominent in this year’s presidential race
DOI: 10.1063/1.3001865
Following are the questions posed by Physics Today and the answers supplied by the Obama campaign.
As soaring energy prices hit home and US voters awaken to the sobering impacts of climate change, physical sciences issues have captured the attention of the presidential candidates like no other election in recent memory. Both nominees, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, have developed detailed proposals for slashing emissions of greenhouse gases and reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. And to counter declining US technological competitiveness, both have put forth plans that include more funding for the physical sciences and the training of more US scientists and engineers.
As it has done for every presidential election since 1976, Physics Today has sought out the views on major science and technology policy issues from the leading contenders for the White House. In late July identical questionnaires were submitted to the Obama and McCain campaigns. As this issue went to press, however, only Obama had responded to the seven-question survey, while McCain headquarters has turned down multiple invitations to participate, even after being warned that Obama’s responses would be published by themselves if necessary. “Thank you once again for your interest,” read the e-mail from McCain headquarters in response to our most recent invitation on 15 September. “Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate your request at this time.” That same day, McCain supplied his answers to a 14-question survey on S&T policy issues that was submitted by the nonprofit group Science Debate 2008. That organization has tried unsuccessfully since last November to organize a debate between the candidates devoted entirely to science policy issues. Many of the issues addressed in that group’s questionnaire, available at www.sciencedebate2008.com , will be of interest to Physics Today readers.
PT
Both of you have set forth plans to mitigate the warming of Earth’s climate that include a mandatory cap-and-trade system on carbon emissions, and both plans call for the emissions credits to be auctioned off to industry. What are the features that make your climate change plan superior to your opponent’s, and why? How would your energy policy address both the rising costs of and the continuing need for fossil fuels?
Obama
I propose to implement a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. I will start reducing emissions immediately by establishing strong annual reduction targets with an intermediate goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. A cap-and-trade program draws on the power of the marketplace to reduce emissions in a cost-effective and flexible way. I will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. I will back this with a greatly expanded federal research and development program and an aggressive set of measures to ensure rapid deployment of new technologies. This effort is designed to ensure that the climate goals can be met on time, at the lowest possible cost, and in a way that stimulates innovation, growth of American businesses, and job creation. Specifically, I will
Invest $150 billion over 10 years into developing and deploying new technologies for efficiency in buildings and transportation, energy storage and transmission, and new-generation technologies for renewables, advanced vehicles like plug-in hybrids, and coal-fired power plants with carbon capture and sequestration;
Double federal clean energy research and development funding. This will support advancements in a broad range of technologies essential for meeting our emissions reduction targets;
Reduce electricity demand in the US 15 percent from expected levels by 2020;
Provide loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers to retool facilities to build new fuel-efficient cars domestically; and
Renew the Production Tax Credit for renewable electricity and create a federal Renewable Portfolio Standard that will require that 10 percent of American electricity is derived from renewable sources by 2012 and 25 percent by 2025.
PT
Despite the high cost of oil, nuclear power remains uneconomical, due largely to compliance with regulations and disposing of nuclear waste. What incentives, if any, would you offer to accelerate new nuclear power generation?
Obama
Nuclear energy can play a major role in helping us provide affordable energy and meeting climate change challenges. But it faces significant challenges in safety, management and protection of nuclear fuel and waste, nuclear proliferation, and cost. I will pursue research and development into safely storing nuclear energy. The nuclear waste disposal efforts at Yucca Mountain have been an expensive failure and should be abandoned. I will work with the industry and governors to develop a way to store nuclear waste safely while we pursue long-term solutions.
PT
Last year’s America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act was heralded as a rare bipartisan agreement to begin addressing the erosion of US competitiveness in many fields of science, technology, and engineering. However, most of the new funding that was authorized by the new law to increase basic research in the physical sciences failed to materialize, despite nearly universal support from Congress and the White House. If you are elected, will you make these increases a priority?
Obama
I believe that investments in research and development—in the physical sciences and other fields—have been essential for the competitiveness of the US economy and for helping us meet national goals in energy, the environment, health care, and many other areas. I cosponsored the America COMPETES Act and successfully included multiple provisions to ensure more Americans have the opportunity to enter and advance through science and technology fields. I have been greatly disappointed that the Bush administration has failed to invest the necessary money in this important effort. Intransigence on the budget made it impossible to find the money needed to support its goals. It will plainly be impossible to meet these goals if my opponent in this election follows through on his promise to freeze domestic discretionary spending. I, however, am strongly committed to doubling basic research budgets at federal agencies that include the NSF, the Office of Science in the Department of Energy, and the National Institute of Science [sic] and Technology.
PT
The Bush administration added to NASA’s missions by setting it on course to return humans to the Moon by 2020. But the president did not provide substantial new funding to cover his Vision for Space Exploration; as a result, NASA’s science and aeronautics programs have had to be pared back to help pay for it. If elected, what changes will you make or new funding will you provide to ease the pressure on NASA?
Obama
I believe that the United States needs a strong space program to help maintain its superiority not only in space but also here on Earth in the realms of education, science, technology, the environment, and national security. Technology developed for space missions has been applied to improve everything from computers and medical technology to baby formula and automobiles.
As president, I will establish a robust and balanced civilian space program. In achieving this vision, I will reach out to include international partners and to engage the private sector to amplify NASA’s reach. I believe that a revitalized NASA can help America maintain its innovation edge and contribute to American economic growth.
I will reestablish the National Aeronautics and Space Council, which will coordinate civilian, military, commercial, and national security space activities and report to the president. This council will oversee a comprehensive and integrated strategy and policy dealing with all aspects of the government’s space-related programs, including those being managed by NASA, the Department of Defense, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies. It will solicit public participation, engage the international community, and work toward a 21st-century vision of space that constantly pushes the envelope on new technologies as it pursues a balanced national portfolio that expands our reach into the heavens and improves life here on Earth.
Human spaceflight is important to America’s political, economic, technological, and scientific leadership. I will support renewed human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. I endorse the goal of sending human missions to the Moon by 2020, as a precursor in an orderly progression to missions to more distant destinations, including Mars.
PT
The budgets of the Department of Energy’s three nuclear weapons laboratories have, in the words of one top official, “been in free-fall” during recent years, with a Congress that is increasingly unwilling to provide funding for their core nuclear deterrent mission. Hundreds of staff have been laid off, taken early retirement, or simply left. Morale is reported to be very low, and the recruitment of fresh young talent is increasingly difficult. In a post–cold war world, what roles do you see for those labs? Should they be consolidated to achieve budget savings?
Obama
The Department of Energy’s weapons laboratories have played a key role in national security and many other areas and will continue to do so. I will build on my record in the US Senate to strengthen international agreements that will make it possible to greatly reduce nuclear weapons. This does not mean that we should in any way reduce our efforts to ensure the safety and reliability of our existing nuclear stockpile. The national laboratories are essential for this mission and for many other critical missions in national security, homeland security, nonproliferation, nuclear power, computational sciences, life sciences, environmental technologies, and other fields. The national laboratories are a critical national science and technology resource and I will ensure that these resources are supported and focused on the science and technology missions most critical to our country in the 21st century.
PT
The US continues to produce too few young engineers and scientists to meet the country’s growing technological needs. Report after report concludes that the country’s public education system is failing to adequately prepare children in mathematics and science. Given the highly fragmented US education system, what can be done at the national level to elevate the mathematics and science literacy of the K–12 student population?
Obama
I will make an unprecedented commitment to science and America’s future by making STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] education a priority. I have already demonstrated this commitment by introducing legislation to support a strong STEM workforce and STEM literacy for all Americans. With Congressman and physicist Rush Holt, I helped establish a STEM Scholarship Base to prepare more students for STEM careers, creating a Web portal with the financial aid opportunities available in science and technology. This will help first-generation college students who may otherwise receive limited guidance in how to finance a degree in science or technology after high school.
I also introduced legislation that improves the coordination of the numerous programs at federal agencies to support teachers and improve science education. The legislation will also increase coherence among federal STEM education efforts by including mechanisms to facilitate cooperation among states regarding development of rigorous common standards and implementation of effective practices.
My new administration will build on this with a comprehensive education plan that will transform the teaching profession. Through Teacher Service Scholarships, a Teacher Residency Program, and development of a career ladder, I will attract thousands of mathematics and science degree graduates to the teaching profession. But this is not enough. I will also encourage the development of innovative instructional materials and technologies and work to ensure that assessments measure the skills and content needed for success in the future. And to ensure we will continue to improve, I will support research on the challenge of implementing quality STEM education practices and helping them spread and endure so that we can maintain our ability to innovate and compete in a global economy.
PT
The US has a spotty record at best when it comes to international scientific cooperation. The latest embarrassment is the ITER fusion reactor, on which DOE was forced to renege on the $150 million installment it had pledged to make this year toward its $1 billion total contribution to the project. What steps would your administration take to ensure that the nation lives up to its international scientific obligations?
Obama
Many pressing research challenges can best be addressed through international collaboration. I will work hard to ensure that we leverage federal research dollars by engaging international partners in projects, including technologies like carbon capture and sequestration. I will also encourage research collaboration in areas where multinational investments are essential, such as medical research on malaria and other diseases. These programs will be fully funded as a part of my strong commitment to double basic research budgets.
McCain
Obama
More about the Authors
David Kramer. dkramer@aip.org
