Nearly 180 organizations representing the business, education and scientific communities have urged the next president to appoint a White House science adviser by January 20--Inauguration Day--and give the adviser cabinet rank. (press release from the American Association for the Advancement of Science)Appointing a science adviser by Inauguration Day is very important. As the letters say,
The next President of the United States will face a wide range of domestic and international challenges, from financial and regulatory reform to healthcare and rising energy costs, fromglobal climate change to ensuring U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.These challenges share one thing in common: long-term solutions that will be impossible without groundbreaking scientific and technological advances. It is therefore critical that the next President seek out and rely upon sound scientific and technological advice early and often in the new Administration. (emphasis in the original)Making sure that the science adviser has cabinet rank doesn't matter nearly as much.
David Goldston points out that cabinet rank isn't what matters.1 Roger Pielke, Jr. made the same point over a year ago.
Andy Revkin reports on the letters at DotEarth. You can also see the letters to John McCain and Barack Obama, along with the names of 178 organizations that signed them.
1Regular readers of this blog (if there are any) may remember that I think David Goldston is a very smart guy.
Hopes within the science community that the next president will somehow return the science adviser to a position of power are based on unrealistic expectations. The relationship between the next president and his or her science adviser will be as unique and idiosyncratic as those under the past ten presidents. Far more important for effective decision-making will be how the next administration manages and uses the vast infrastructure of expert advice that it will inherit.Regardless of whether John McCain or Barack Obama is elected next Tuesday, we need to focus on ensuring that the next President of the United States receives the best science advice possible, not on whether his science adviser is a member of the Cabinet.
Andy Revkin reports on the letters at DotEarth. You can also see the letters to John McCain and Barack Obama, along with the names of 178 organizations that signed them.
1Regular readers of this blog (if there are any) may remember that I think David Goldston is a very smart guy.
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