Tracking science stimulus funds

A new website called ScienceWorksForUS , has been launched that highlights research and science-related funding from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act .

The data for the site were gathered by a group called the Science Coalition in collaboration with the Association of American Universities and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities .

“This [funding] reflects what’s possible when smart investments in the public sector are placed in the hands of our scientists, innovators, and academies of higher learning,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who was at a press conference launching the site. “We will ensure that the Recovery Act was not the end of our investment in innovation, but the beginning of a sustained commitment to science,” she added.

The stimulus contained $21.5 billion for scientific research, the purchase of capital equipment and science-related construction projects.

This money is less than 3% of the $787 billion stimulus measure."These research projects—large and small—are making a difference in hundreds of local communities by providing jobs for researchers, lab technicians, and graduate students,” said University of Arizona President Robert Shelton .

Long-term impact“When we invested nearly $22 billion in the Recovery Bill for scientific discovery, we set the stage not just for job creation today, but for the economic growth of tomorrow,” said Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Research and Development Caucus . “It is vital for our long-term economic prosperity that we maintain this robust commitment to scientific research and development.”

How strong this commitment is from the Obama administration will clearly be seen in next year’s budget. All the federal agencies have been asked to create two budgets , one with flat spending at 2009 levels (excluding stimulus funds) and the other with a 5% cut from 2009 levels.

Paul Guinnessy