Where do the candidates stand on expanding our nations commitment to basic research?
As the ongoing financial crisis has clearly illustrated, the top priority for the next President will be addressing the nation’s severe economic crisis. Believing that expanding the nation’s commitment to basic scientific research is one of the most important actions the next President can take to ensure our long-term fiscal health, The Science Coalition today distributed 10 suggested questions (attached) to the moderator of tomorrow’s presidential debate. Answers to the questions, which also have been provided to the presidential campaigns, will help voters understand the candidates’ positions on a variety of issues related to federal support of basic scientific research. How is basic research part of the solution to our economic problems? More than half of U.S. economic growth in the past 60 years can be traced to science-driven technological innovation. The source of much of this innovation was university-based scientific research, supported by the federal government through institu
