 [36] Media, news (1:375/48)  ALT.NEWS-MEDIA 
 Msg  : #2496 [100]                                                             
 From : The White House                     1:2613/335      Fri 05 Aug 94 01:46 
 To   : All                                                                     
 Subj : CLINTON: 1994-08-03 White House Releases National Science Policy Report 

From: Publications-Admin@Whitehouse.Gov (The White House)
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab



                             THE WHITE HOUSE

                      Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                             August 3, 1994


           WHITE HOUSE RELEASES NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY REPORT

     In a report on national science policy released by the White
House today, President Clinton and Vice President Gore called for
investment in science as a national priority, and linked
scientific research and education to national goals and the
future well-being of the country.

     "The return from our public investment in fundamental
science has been enormous. The principal sponsors and
beneficiaries are the American people," said President Clinton.
"Our scientific investments are an important national resource
which we must sustain and build on for the future."

     The science policy report, "Science in the National
Interest," is the first major post-Cold War review of national
science policy by the White House, and the first formal
Presidential statement  on science policy since 1979.  The report
represents the Administration's vision and roadmap for putting
science to work on behalf of a broadened set of national goals to
benefit the American people:  health, prosperity, national
security, environmental responsibility, and improved quality of
life.

     The report, which was released by the Vice President at a
White House ceremony, presents a new view of fundamental science
research and technological advances as interdependent elements
that underpin the nation's economy. "Today's science and
technology enterprise is more like an ecosystem than a production
line," said Vice President Gore.  "Technology is the engine of
economic growth; science fuels technology's engine."

     The Vice President acknowledged that the new focus on a
broadened set of post-Cold War goals will require the most
efficient and effective use of scarce resources.  "Over the
long term, U.S. investment in fundamental research must be
commensurate with our national goals," he said.

     The document proposes a series of actions to meet five broad
goals for world leadership in science, mathematics and
engineering:

*    Maintain leadership across the frontiers of scientific
knowledge;

*    Enhance connections between fundamental research and
national goals;

*    Stimulate government, industry, and academic partnerships
that promote investment in fundamental science and engineering
and effective use of physical, human, and financial resources;

*    Produce the finest scientists and engineers for the
twenty-first century;

*    Raise the scientific and technology literacy of all
Americans.

     The report calls for full and equal participation of all
Americans, as both contributors to and benefactors of the
nation's scientific investment, and recommends a number of
actions to increase diversity in the science and technology
workforce.  "America derives great strength from its diversity,
yet the country has not had a coherent policy for developing all
our human resources for science and technology," said Gore.  He
underscored the importance of role models and mentoring by
announcing a new Presidential awards program to recognize such
activities at the state and local level.

     The report also calls on scientists to become directly and
actively involved in the "critically important national
challenge" to increase literacy and to meet the Administration's
"Goals 2000" education agenda.  "Our economic strength will
depend more than ever on the ability of the American people to
deal with new challenges and rapid change," said Vice
President Gore.  "Our scientific community must contribute more
strongly to broad public understanding of scientific issues and
information."

     Highlighting an emphasis on partnerships, the policy calls
for the "creative participation of industry and academia" in
helping to ensure the prosperity, security and social well-being
of the nation.  At the same time, the policy acknowledges that
the societal applications of fundamental science are not always
immediately apparent and require sustained support to yield
benefits.  "We must not allow a short-term focus to limit the
long-term potential benefits," said Vice President Gore.

     "These policies and actions are significant steps in a
proactive, ongoing process," said the President's Science
Advisor, John Gibbons, who joined the Vice President for the
release of the report.  "This vision belongs to the many agencies
and institutions which will use it as a roadmap to the future.
But more importantly, it belongs to the American people, whose
support is essential if we are to build a secure foundation for
our nation and our children."

     The 31-page policy document, as issued by President
Clinton's National Science and Technology Council, is available
for electronic dissemination on FedWorld and through the
Internet at whitehouse.gov, sunsite.unc.edu, and other major
online sites.


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