The Science of Science and Innovation Policy
Opening Statement By Chairman Daniel Lipinski
Good afternoon and welcome to today’s Research and Science Education Subcommittee hearing on the science of science and innovation policy, also know as SciSIP. For those of you who might not be familiar with the phrase, the “science of science policy” is a field of interdisciplinary research that focuses on understanding how our policy decisions impact innovation and science and engineering research. Given the magnitude of the federal investment in science and technology, there is a need for objective analysis and evaluation of federally funded R&D programs. And given the size of the budget deficit, Congressional decision makers need the best information possible to make sure we are spending taxpayer dollars optimally. Today we’ll be hearing from a diverse panel of witnesses about the current state of research and education in this emerging field.
This topic is of particular interest to me since it goes to the core of why I joined the Science and Technology Committee when I came to Congress. Like most Members of this committee, I believe that science and engineering research and education have driven long-term economic growth and improved the quality of life for all Americans. I view science and innovation policy as critical for maintaining our international competitiveness and creating jobs.
But the best policies are not self-evident. As someone who was trained as an engineer and a social scientist, I believe we need data and proper analysis of this data to be able to determine – as best we can – the optimal policy to implement. We are going to hear today about some of the research that is being done on science policy, and I am eager to hear the panel’s thoughts on what is being found, how well the findings of this research are being disseminated, and whether research in this area is actually helping policy makers.
While many of us would agree that science has had a positive impact on our lives, I think we actually know very little about how the process of innovation works. What kinds of research programs or institutional structures are most effective? How do investments in R&D translate to more jobs, improved health, and overall societal wellbeing? How should we balance investments in basic and applied research? With millions of Americans out of work, it becomes more critical than ever that we find answers to these questions.
We’ll also take a closer look at the state of education in science and technology policy and how these degree programs and courses of study are contributing by educating the next generation of researchers and science policy practitioners. There are a variety of science and technology policy programs that are popping up across the country. They can be found in public policy schools, economics departments, business schools, and other places, even philosophy departments. I’m looking forward to hearing more about these programs, including what kind of students they attract and where those students go upon graduation.
Finally, I hope to hear recommendations from today’s witnesses about how the Federal government, particularly the National Science Foundation, can foster interdisciplinary research in this area and how it can contribute to improved education and training for students who want to pursue a career at the intersection of science, technology, and public policy.
I thank the witnesses for being here this afternoon and look forward to their testimony.
Witnesses
Panel
1 - Dr. Julia Lane
Program Director Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) National Science Foundation Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) National Scienc
Download the Witness Testimony
2 - Dr. Daniel Sarewitz
Co-Director Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes Arizona State University Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes Arizona State University
Download the Witness Testimony
3 - Dr. Fiona Murray
Associate Professor Management of Technological Innovation & Entrepreneurship Massachusetts Institute of Technology Management of Technological Innovation & Ent
Download the Witness Testimony
4 - Dr. Albert H. Teich
Director of Science & Policy Programs American Association for the Advancement of Science American Association for the Advancement of Science
Download the Witness Testimony