Behind the Scenes: Science and Education at the Smithsonian Institution

Good afternoon and welcome to today’s Research and Science Education Subcommittee hearing on Science and Education at the Smithsonian Institution. 

 

When most Americans think of the Smithsonian, they think about the famous museums and the castle along the National Mall. Some that know a little more might also think of the National Zoo. But most people do not know that the Smithsonian Institution receives nearly $800 million a year in federal appropriations, or that over $200 million of that goes toward basic scientific research and dedicated Smithsonian research facilities.

 

In spite of receiving almost a billion dollars a year in taxpayer funds, the Smithsonian is not actually part of any branch of government. Although it began with a bequest from British scientist James Smithson, it is technically a “federal trust instrumentality,” established by an Act of Congress in 1846. As such, it is appropriate and necessary for the Congress to take a more active role in oversight of the Institution’s activities and long-term plans.

 

This hearing will focus on the Smithsonian’s contributions to scientific research and education, on its vast scientific collections, and how the Institution collaborates with Federal agencies. I’m looking forward to learning what goes on behind the scenes at their 19 museums and nine research centers, and how they share expertise with the 168 affiliated museums from around the country.

 

I’m particularly interested in hearing from the Smithsonian’s first-ever Director of Education, and about her plans for improving education, outreach, and access programs. Informal science education has been a passion of mine on this subcommittee, probably because I know how my own early experiences at the Museum of Science and Industry and the Field Museum in Chicago influenced my interest in science and engineering. I hope both Director Brown and Secretary Clough will explain how the new position fits into the Smithsonian’s strategic plan and what its role is, and should be, in federal STEM education programs.

 

The Smithsonian Institution’s research centers stretch from the Tropical Research Institute in Panama to the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. These facilities, which are home to some of the world’s foremost scientific experts, are almost unknown to the general public. The Center for Astrophysics, for example, has 300 scientists and 12 telescopes on land and in the sky, but most of us have never heard of the Center or its work. The Smithsonian is especially active in the life sciences, including ecology, with four of the research centers and the National Zoo focusing in these areas. As one of the Co-chairs of the Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus, I am particularly interested in learning about the Zoo’s efforts to repopulate endangered species. 

 

Finally, I would like to hear how the Smithsonian works with other federal agencies, including through coordinating bodies like the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science and Technology Council. Although federal coordination is a bit more complicated because the Smithsonian is not a part of the Executive Branch, working with other science and education agencies is extremely important if we want to maximize the impact of federal spending.

 

One area where it is especially important to coordinate between agencies is in managing and sharing scientific collections. The Smithsonian has one of the largest collections in the world, including over 137 million individual specimens and artifacts used for scientific research and museum displays. In 2005, the Smithsonian and the Department of Agriculture co-chaired an interagency working group that released a report highlighting the importance of improving collections management. I’m looking forward to learning more about the Smithsonian’s plans for implementing the recommendations in this report.

 

I would like to thank all of our witnesses for joining us and look forward to their testimony.