The Perils of Complacency: America at a Tipping Point in Science and Engineering

The year 2020 was the 75th anniversary of Vannevar Bush’s “Science, the Endless Frontier,” which asserted not only that science was the key to vital new knowledge but an engine of economic growth and prosperity as well. What Bush could not foresee was the unprecedented challenge to American science, engineering, technology and global competitiveness that another nation – China - poses today. A recent report “The Perils of Complacency: America at a Tipping Point in Science and Engineering” describes the challenge and proposes steps that policy makers can take to reverse a national policy trajectory that has placed the U.S. in such a vulnerable position. The report is neither anti-China nor pro-China; rather it is intended as a wake-up call to U.S. presidents, members of Congress, and corporate and civic leaders, who will need to agree on a strategy and stick to it. In this talk, the report will be briefly described, as well as ongoing efforts – inside and outside the federal government – to help reverse course for the nation.