Leaders Ignore Science Shortfalls to the Peril of America’s Future

Back in April 2005, I wrote a column decrying our failure to invest adequately in basic research, in science and science education. I noted that basic research was our crown jewel, one in which our overwhelming lead and our position as home to the best scientists in the world was the key to our edge in the international economy. More than three years later, it is worth revisiting whether we have done anything meaningful to address the problems I raised.