Continues call for investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent to sustain the national capacity for innovation

Troy, N.Y. — In a lecture at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson called for a renewed focus on science in key public policy deliberations. She urged scientists to become more actively engaged in the public policy arena, and for policymakers to rely on sound science. She also continued her call for increased investments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent to sustain the nation’s capacity for innovation. 

“To resolve the critical, global issues which confront us at the beginning of this young century — and to assure that our planet and its people, indeed, have a future — it is necessary for science and leadership to coalesce in ways that we have not yet seen,” Jackson said. 

Noting the “exponential rise in the volume and availability of information, which influences the perception of science, the understanding of the role of the scientist, and the acceptance of both,” Jackson raised concern that “the marketplace is populated with self-proclaimed experts,” and therefore it is essential for leaders to examine “where does the scientist stand? ... and how does the public choose its ‘truth’ and settle upon what it will accept as ‘fact’?... and with what degree of trust does the average citizen regard the voice of scientific expertise?” She asked, “Is the voice (of science) even heard?” 

“The arena of public discourse abounds with controversy — and the volume and passion of the rhetoric sometimes drowns the voice of science itself,” Jackson said. “And yet, science meets society – sometimes most explosively — where it impacts public policy, because public policy is where we chart our future. And this is where… we must find and insist upon sound leadership.” 

“Leadership is required of all of us — elected leaders, of course, government officials, of course, but leadership extends to each of us within our own spheres of influence,” Jackson said.

The talk, titled “Science and Leadership: The Imperative,” also focused on the nation’s need to invest in human talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to address key global challenges. 

Jackson said that innovation and the development and exploitation of new technologies demands two crucial elements:  a strong, consistent leadership to overcome distrust and confusion over science, to resolve knife-edge issues, and to generate sound, progressive public policy; and the “intellectual security” of a robust American science and engineering workforce. 

Jackson suggested that our national capacity for innovation will help us resolve “knife-edge” issues such as energy security, but she warned of a “Quiet Crisis” in America — the threat to our nation’s capacity to innovate due to the looming shortage in the nation’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. The shortfall results from a record number of retirements on the horizon in the STEM fields, and not enough students in the pipeline to replace them. 

According to Jackson, if the United States is to maintain its leadership in science and technology, it will require a significant increase in the number of people choosing to pursue careers in these fields. To do that, it will require tapping into all of the talent this nation has to offer, including women and minorities — what she calls the “underrepresented majority” — who traditionally have been underrepresented in the STEM fields.

Jackson has urged a national focus on energy research as a focal point to excite and encourage greater interest in science and engineering careers. “Addressing the world’s energy needs, in an environmentally sustainable way, is the central challenge of our time,” she said.

She also urged a cultural shift “to value science and those who do it.”

President Jackson delivered the Gustav Pollak Lecture at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, on Feb. 22, 2007. The Gustav Pollak Lectureship was founded in 1951 by Leo Silver as a memorial to journalist Gustav Pollak, who wrote for The Nation and other publications in the early 20th century. 

The full text of the speech is available on President Jackson’s “Quiet Crisis” Web site at: http://www.rpi.edu/homepage/quietcrisis/ps022207-harvardgustavpollack.html.

The lecture, which was Webcast live, can be viewed by visiting: http://ksgaccman.harvard.edu/iop/events_forum_listview.asp.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu