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Sophia_Ginis |
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Energy Security and Sustainability
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Discussion Forum
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Oct 20 2008, 11:57 AM EDT by
Cherisa |
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Thread started: Sep 4 2008, 11:04 AM EDT
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What would a sustainable energy package look like? How can we ensure our energy security?
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RE: Energy Security and Sustainability
By: Cherisa,
Oct 20 2008, 11:57 AM EDT
A sustainable policy is multidimensional - not just fossil fuel-based nor nuclear, and not just focused on production and consumption. A comprehensive policy must include multiple sources of energy, but also building construction codes, tax policy initiatives to promote innovation and conversion to more sustainable sources, education, transportation alternatives, etc. Energy use touches all parts of the economy and therefore our welfare. Looking at it through one lens - whether global warming or nuclear conversion is misguided. To ensure our future, we must maximize the channels available to feed our growing requirements.
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CatherineMitchell |
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Pandemic and Preparedness
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Oct 17 2008, 7:01 PM EDT by
Mfall |
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Thread started: Oct 17 2008, 1:18 PM EDT
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My question to both candidates and topic for discussion is...
Due to the overwhelming lack of information reaching the general public and the length of time needed to educate and inform people of the very serious nature of pandemic influenza the American citizens will not be prepared to deal with the fallout of this infectious disease. Many factors such as "just-in-time" delivery of goods, current economic realities, and lack of general preparedness will cause deaths beyond what the pandemic itself will cause. Increasingly it is becoming apparent that there exists in this country a serious digital divide. People with computers and knowledge of how to use technology have access to this information literally at their fingertips while those not utilizing technology are being left behind.
The federal government has left such decisions up to the states, the state have left such decisions up to the counties of local jurisdictions. Local jurisdictions do not have professional manning the posts in their boards of health and in rural areas they are largely not preparing due to lack of funding and the overwhelming burden of preparedness.
This is the first time that we have been able to prepare for a pandemic and I am concerned that we are losing valuable time. Pandemic Influenza typically hits hardest those with robust immune systems like children and young adults. I fear the anger of the US Citizens when they realize that they have not been given sufficient heads up in order for them to protect their children and the youth of this nation.
How will you ensure that ALL citizens of the United States, regardless of disability or other inability such as lack of access to online information, receive lifesaving preparedness information while there is still time to prepare - and not after a state of emergency has already been declared as is the current plan for many of our state and local governments?
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RE: Pandemic and Preparedness
By: Mfall,
Oct 17 2008, 7:01 PM EDT
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy is a new tool for identifying viruses that is both cheap and portable.
These should be rapidly deployed as a homeland security issue.
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Policy Challenges
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Innovation 2008 Home
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Oct 7 2008, 4:18 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Sep 5 2008, 4:25 PM EDT
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What is the most important issue for you in terms of science and technology policy?
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RE: Policy Challenges
By: ,
Oct 7 2008, 4:18 PM EDT
I feel that we have lost our sense of purpose in studying science. It has become more of a vehicle for pursuing other interests - be it spreading your gospel, racking up publications or making money. It would be worthwhile to re-examine the writings of science philosophers and historians (Bronowski, Gordon Brown, etc) to define what the role/mission of science is, what its limitations are, and how it should advise social and economic policy.
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STEM Education
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Discussion Forum
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Oct 7 2008, 4:14 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Sep 4 2008, 11:02 AM EDT
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What does the US need to do to ensure student pursue science and technology? How do we ensure that our electorate is informed about science and technology issues?
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RE: STEM Education
By: ,
Oct 7 2008, 4:14 PM EDT
What we need is a case-study-oriented curriculum that makes the concepts relevant.
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Innovation & Competitiveness
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Discussion Forum
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Sep 30 2008, 1:05 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Sep 4 2008, 11:00 AM EDT
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What do you think the United States needs to do in terms of policy to stay globally competitive and spur innovation?
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RE: Innovation & Competitiveness
By: ,
Sep 30 2008, 1:05 PM EDT
"What do you think the United States needs to do in terms of policy to stay globally competitive and spur innovation? " I think the short answer is there needs to be a commitment to non-political funding. Science and technology are expensive enterprises. To train and maintain future/current scientists and engineers requires large expenditure of money. In 2005, UNESCO reports that the US spent 2% of its GDP on R&D, behind Canada, Finland, Sweden, Israel, Japan, and Korea (in no particular order) to name a few. I would argue the real R&D in the US is much less if we remove expenditures on star wars, bombers, bombs, etc.
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Health Policy
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Discussion Forum
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Sep 23 2008, 4:59 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Sep 4 2008, 11:03 AM EDT
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What should be our health care policy? And how should we be funding health related research?
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RE: Health Policy
By: ,
Sep 23 2008, 4:59 PM EDT
I want to touch on the latter question, "how should we fund health related research?"
From the where does the money come from perspective: the federal (and state) government needs to stay heavily invested. The benefits to the tax payer are real, so I do not believe this represents a kind of "scientist welfare." The contrasting view could be to have industry be the primary investors in bio-medical research, however this carries the burden of foreseeable profits. Important research would not be done because the risk is to great, because the company already has a drug/device/etc in that area and does not want to compete with itself, because the CEO changes and so do the research approaches. Industry can be a great ally in bio-medical research but should not be the main driver.
From the what kinds of research should we fund perspective: we need to move away from the push towards, what is now called, translational research and back towards basic research. This is the research that is often referred to as bench to bedside research. The things being done in the laboratory having a direct line to the patient. While noble and easily defendable from an emotional standpoint, this approach is not a long term strategy for health related research in general. The problem is knowing what the goal is (cure for cancer) does not give you any indication on how to get there. The advantage in basic research is that you are guaranteed to generate new information, which may be used by bio-medical researchers in other areas to drive therapeutic breakthroughs or new treatment strategies. When translational research fails to deliver, you often have not generated new information. Translational research is important and necessary, but is derived from previous basic research studies. Thus, fund both but do not undercut basic research because it sounds politically appealing to fund translational research more.
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The Conference
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Discussion Forum
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Sep 23 2008, 2:17 PM EDT by
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Thread started: Sep 4 2008, 10:56 AM EDT
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What do you hope to take away from this conference, or what do you hope this conference accomplishes?
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RE: The Conference
By: ,
Sep 23 2008, 2:17 PM EDT
I don't think I'll be able to attend the conference, but I wanted to say how excited I was that you created a Wiki for it! What a great way to engage people in ideas and perhaps introduce them to new technology. I hope we see things like this more and more often! Keep up the good work!
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