The Intersection of Science and Public Policy

1. The Intersection of Science and Public Policy Skip Stiles June 17, 2004 at the Coastal Business, Education, and Technology Alliance (BETA) Savannah, Georgia

2. Why should Coastal BETA care about science policy? • What are the parts of the policy process? • How does scientific research get done? Who is involved? • How do you make the science and public policy process work to the advantage of the “Creative Coast?”

3. Why Care about Science Policy? • Economy is increasingly driven by “knowledge-based” sectors using advanced research results • Coastal BETA/Savannah’s success depends upon being able to take advantage of this “knowledge based” economy

4. University-Business-Government Cooperation Needed “Knowledge based” efforts are a partnership between universities – business – government Scientific advance is a necessary but not sufficient condition for social progress Research results must be mediated through other social institutions (social, economic, and political) before social progress can occur

5. Partners Must Work Together The gap between the “Two Cultures” must be bridged – C.P. Snow’s 1959 Reade Lecture alleged that social progress was hindered by the communications gap between science and the humanities (social, political, economic sectors)

6. What is the public policy process? • Political system (Federal, State and Local) • Legislative (Congress, Legislature, City Council) • Administrative/Agencies AND…….

7. What is the public policy process? • General Public • Private Economic Sector • Education System: K-12 • Media • Public Opinion

8. What Does Public Policy Have to do with Science? EVERYTHING….. Research and Development (R&D) is funded and conducted by government and industry together – and most basic research is done at universities.

9. What Does Public Policy Have to do with Science? • Pre WWII, R&D funding was largely from industry and foundations – little federal funding outside of agriculture • WWII was true “science-based” war, culminating in nuclear weapons development and use • Vaneevar Bush in “Science: The Endless Frontier” advocated for central federal research agency and continued federal funding of R&D (1945) • Sputnik/Cold War sealed the “contract” between science and the federal government

10. Science Policy = Budget “The US doesn’t have a Science Policy, it has a budget policy for Science.” Rep. George E. Brown, Jr. • Federal research comes from dozens of agencies – no unified coordination • Federal budget sets direction, health of US research system • Budget determines 1/3 of all US R&D and 2/3 of all university R&D

11. Budget Basics Entitlements are more than ½ of federal budget and must be paid for first (SS, Medicare, debt, etc.) Science funding must be renewed every year - not an entitlement Science funding competes with all other “discretionary” funding in the budget

15. Budget Basics “Discretionary” programs are at risk from deficits – There is a need to cut spending to balance the budget There is a larger debt service eating up dollars in the budget

18. Budget Basics There is no unified “science” or “research” budget Many agencies contribute to the overall federal R&D picture Defense research and development is a big part of the R&D picture

22. Budget Basics Defense R&D is mostly “D” – development of systems and prototypes and mostly done by industry Civilian R&D is much more “R” and concentrated at colleges and universities

24. Budget Basics Societal priorities become reflected in Science Funding priorities

26. Budget Basics Different disciplines/sectors of the economy are dependant on different funding sources

29. Budget Basics Industrial R&D funding has grown to more than 2/3 of the total US R&D outlay …with most of this work applied research performed by industry

31. Budget Basics Universities are still overwhelmingly dependant upon federal research program funding (Colleges and Universities produce the high-tech workforce while performing the R&D work – double service to society)

33. What’s the Global R&D Picture? The US still sets the pace for R&D funding and leads in basic research Many foreign countries are moving ahead with quality R&D programs and increasing number of patents are from offshore US restrictions on foreign students are sending them to other countries or keeping them home

35. What’s the R&D Picture in Georgia?

37. Total R&D in Georgia – FY 2000 (in million$)

40. Federal R&D $ to Georgia Colleges and Universities FY 1999 – Total $310 million

42. What Does the Future Hold? Budget cuts are coming to deal with the debt – and R&D programs will take a major hit

44. How Should Coastal BETA get Involved? Figure out what your interests are in federal R&D programs Let elected representatives know of your interest – Rep. Kingston is on House Appropriations Committee Let local press know – build public support for your position

45. Find your Partners • Inventory your strengths and assets in all sectors – university and business • Skidaway Institute of Oceanography • Savannah College of Art and Design • Armstrong Atlantic State College • Savannah Technical College • Georgia Southern University • Savannah State University • Georgia Tech Savannah

46. Work All of Your Strengths LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Attract and retain creative talent – Rise of the Creative Class – Richard Florida

47. Look for Trends State of the Ocean is in the news – need R&D and better observation systems in place = SKIO Graphic design is a major part of the web - games make more money than Hollywood = SCAD