Global collaboration key for US, says Obama’s Science Director-designate

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5 March 2009

Policy | United States

Global collaboration key for US, says Obama’s Science Director-designate

Lori Valigra

President Obama’s move to focus on “science as economic saviour” stalled this week when the appointment of key advisors was put on hold. But there is still optimism about the impact the new administration will have on innovation, the economy and international collaboration.

Only a week ago, the Obama administration’s innovation agenda appeared to be marching ahead. With the senate confirmation hearings on presidential science director-nominee John Holdren and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator-nominee Jane Lubchenco complete, their appointments were expected to be completed by the end of February. Then earlier this week, a hold was put on the confirmations for apparently unrelated political reasons.

The politics must be sorted out, but scientists and others remain hopeful about the impact Holdren, Lubchenco and other of President Obama’s science appointees will make on innovation and the economy, and on international collaboration.

Holdren, the Harvard University professor who is director-designate of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), an Executive Office of the President, told his confirmation hearing last month that international collaboration, especially on big science projects including climate issues, will be a key part of his plan.

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