The agency within the Federal Government that has responsibility for advising the President on S&T matters and coordinating activities across government is the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The Director of OSTP is a Senate-confirmed presidential appointee, who traditionally also serves as the President's Science Advisor (an unofficial title with a long tradition). In past Administrations, this individual had the title "Assistant to the President for Science and Technology". Reports, speeches, testimony and other documents that relate to S&T policy and the activities of the White House, in particular, can be found at the OSTP web site. Information describing activities of the Clinton Administration can be found at the OSTP archives.
A high-level committee that performs the coordinating function is the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). This committee is chaired by the President and consists of Cabinet Secretaries and heads of agencies that have significant involvement in S&T. The Director of OSTP serves on the NSTC and it is staffed by OSTP. NSTC activities and related documents in the Clinton-Gore Administration are included in the NSTC archives.
The President has a non-government committee called the President's Council of Advisors on S&T (PCAST), co-chaired by the Director of OSTP and staffed by OSTP. It is comprised of presidentially appointed individuals with expertise in S&T, usually from industry and academe, which advise the President. PCAST activities and related documents in the Clinton-Gore Administration are included in the PCAST archives.
An organization within the RAND Corporation, funded by the NSF to provide assistance to the White House OSTP, is called the S&T Policy Institute (STPI). Since OSTP has staffing limitations, the STPI can help to collect information, carry out studies, produce reports and respond to other staffing needs.
Most government activities that relate to S&T are carried by a large number of cabinet-level departments and other agencies, some of which are described, briefly, below:
• Agriculture (U.S. Department of Agriculture - USDA)
U.S. agriculture has a strong tradition of research. It was the first organization that demonstrated to the American people the importance of science in increased food production and food safety. Most of USDA's research is conducted in-house, through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which has 22 different programs.
USDA also applies scientific knowledge and new technologies in its role as a regulator of the food industry and protector of the safety of food in the U.S. This is no small feat, since food safety is also a responsibility of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency of the Department of Housing and Human Services (HHS). The USDA handles meat and poultry, while FDA is responsible for fruit, vegetables and seafood. Unfortunately, the two agencies do not coordinate their work very well. An important policy challenge is the need to better coordinate these agency responsibilities. Congress has encouraged better cooperation through the creation of the Food Safety and Information Office (FSIRO).
Another challenge to USDA and the food industry is the strong negative reaction of Europe to genetically engineered organisms (often called genetically modified organisms or GMOs). Foods and crops were engineered for traits like increased resistance to pest. In spite of the lack of scientific evidence that GMOs are of any greater risk than any other form of agriculture or pesticide, the European community has banned their use and is pressuring other communities to do the same.
• Commerce (DoC)
The Department of Commerce serves to promote the nation's international trade, economic growth, and technological advancement. It offers assistance and information to increase U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace; administers programs to create new jobs and to foster the growth of minority-owned businesses; and provides statistical, economic, and demographic information for business and government planners.
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the Technology Administration, promotes U.S. economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements and standards.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to predicting and protecting the environment. NOAA's overall mission is two-fold: (1) environmental assessment and prediction (to observe and assess the state of our environment, while protecting public safety and the Nation's economic and environmental security through accurate forecasting) and (2) environmental stewardship (protecting the ocean, coastal and living marine resources while assisting their economic development).
• Defense (DoD)
The Department of Defense was created in 1949 by merging the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The DoD employs approximately 5.3 million people with 1.4 million on active duty. The goal of the DoD is to formulate national security/defense policy as well as warfighting, humanitarian work, peacekeeping, evacuation, and homeland security.
The DoD supports a major Basic Research Program focusing on national security and contributing significantly to the economic infrastructure and, ultimately, the quality of life of the nation. The research focuses on long-term goals leading to new or improved technologies. Sometimes efforts initiated in the research laboratory produce results that can be transferred rapidly to either military or civilian applications, hence program managers and researchers are encouraged to make every effort to be aware of such applications, which can stimulate invention and innovation and help open up fresh research areas.
The military departments all have offices of scientific research (The Army Research Office, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Office of Naval Research).
• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development organization for the DoD. It manages and directs selected basic and applied research and development projects for DoD, and pursues research and technology where risk and payoff are both very high and where success may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and missions.
• Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
The Missile Defense Agency's mission is to develop and field an integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System capable of providing a layered defense for the United States and its deployed forces, friends and allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges in all phases of flight. MDA is responsible for research, development, testing and evaluation.
• Energy (DoE)
The Department of Energy's main goal is to advance the national economic and energy security of the US. It does this by promoting scientific and technological innovation and ensuring the environmental clean up of national nuclear weapon complex. The main research goals of the DoE are to advance research for national defense, promote a diverse supply and delivery of reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy by funding scientific research. The DoE funds some of this research though their national laboratories and technology centers, which employ more than 30,000 scientist and engineers.
The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, providing more than 40 percent of total funding for this vital area of national importance. It oversees and is the principal federal funding agency of the nation's research programs in high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences. The Office of Science also manages fundamental research programs in basic energy sciences, biological and environmental sciences, and computational science. In addition, it is the largest agency to fund materials and chemical science and it also supports U.S. research in climate change, geophysics, genomics (the human genome project), life sciences, and science education
The Office of Fossil Energy is helping to develop advanced coal, oil and natural gas technologies that can meet the Clear Skies and Climate Change goals to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions and strengthen the nation's energy security. It does this through R&D partnerships with the private sector. Current research interests include carbon sequestration and climate change.
• Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology
The Nuclear Energy Program represents the core of the U.S. Government's expertise in nuclear engineering and technology. They help maintain the nation's access to diverse and environmentally responsible sources of energy. Research in nuclear energy advances economic and technological competitiveness of the US.
• Health and Human Services (HHS)
The Department of Health and Human Services is the principle agency for protecting health. It is the largest granting agency, providing some 60,000 grants a year. Most of the scientific research it funds is through three public health service agencies: the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH is the world's premier medical research organization, supporting some 35,000 research projects nationwide in diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, arthritis, and AIDS. It is a collection of 27 different institutes and centers. The goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold. NIH does this by conducting research in its own laboratories and supporting the research of non-federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions. It also helps in the training of research investigators and fosters communication of medical and health sciences information.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Mission for the CDC is to improve health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. The CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and world to monitor health, detect and investigate health problems, conduct research to enhance prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, implement prevention strategies, promote healthy behaviors, foster safe and healthful environments, and provide leadership and training. The national headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia and it is a collection of 12 centers, institutes, and offices.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply (fruit, vegetables, and seafood), cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable. It also helps the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.
• Interior (DoI)
The Department of Interior has five main goals. It protects the environment and preserves our Nation's natural and cultural resources, while also managing these natural resources for a healthy environment and strong economy. The DoI provides recreation for America and works to meet our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island communities. The fifth goal is to provide science on for a changing world. This is done through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS was created by an act of Congress in 1879. Today, it stands as the sole science agency for the Department of the Interior. The USGS is an independent fact-finding agency that collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. The value of the USGS to the Nation rests on its ability to carry out studies on a national scale and to sustain long-term monitoring and assessment of natural resources. Because it has no regulatory or management mandate, the USGS provides impartial science that serves the needs of our changing world.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) began after World War II. It had its genesis in a report "Science, the Endless Frontier" written by Vannever Bush, head of the government's wartime Office of Scientific Research and Development and advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. The NSF was established in 1950, to "promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and secure the national defense", although over the years its mandate has expanded to include engineering and science, mathematics, and engineering education. The NSF has an annual budget of approximately $5 billion (in FY2004), which is used to award grants to researchers who submit unsolicited proposals. The NSF supports basic research and educational activities in most fields of science and engineering, except for biomedical research, which is supported by NIH. Funding decisions are made on the basis of expert peer-review of the proposals. The NSF funds a wide range of projects, from small independent-investigator grants (of the order several $100K per year) to large facility construction and operation (can be tens of millions of dollars per year).
The head of the agency is the Director, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate and who serves for a term of six years (although few NSF Directors serve a full term.). On major policy matters, including the budget, the Director shares responsibility with the National Science Board (NSB), which is made up of 24 scientists, engineers, industrial leaders, who are also appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and who serve part-time for six-year terms. How this responsibility is shared varies over time, depending on the issues of the time and the personalities of the people involved. In principle, at least, the NSB has a broader role in national science policy than NSF. From time to time the NSB carries out studies and issue reports that go beyond NSF, e.g. science and mathematics education, graduate education and training, international cooperation in science, environmental science, research facilities at universities. However, the Board generally stays clear of detailed recommendations regarding other federal agencies.
• National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
Since its inception in 1958, NASA has accomplished many great scientific and technological feats in air and space. It has conducted many types of cutting-edge aeronautics research on aerodynamics, wind shear, and other important topics using wind tunnels, flight-testing, and computer simulations. Additionally, NASA has launched a number of significant scientific probes such as the Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft that have explored the Moon, the planets, and other areas of our solar system. To investigate Mars, NASA sent several spacecraft including the Viking, the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, and the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Endeavor. NASA also remains a leading force in scientific research and in stimulating public interest in aerospace exploration, as well as science and technology in general. Overall, the mission of NASA as quoted by Sean O'Keefe its Administrative Director is "to pioneer the future... to push the envelope... to do what has never been done before."
Office of S&T Policy
OSTP ArchivesNational S&T Council
NSTC ArchivesPresident's Council of Advisors on S&T
PCAST archivesRAND Corporation S&T Policy Institute
US Department of Agriculture
USDA Agriculture Research Service
USDA-ARS programs
USDA Food Safety and Information OfficeDepartment of Commerce
National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationDepartment of Defense
Defense Basic Research
Air Force
Office of Scientific Research
Army
Office of Research
Navy
Office of Naval Research
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Missile DefenseDepartment of Energy
Office of Science
Office of Fossil Energy
Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology
Science and Technology Programs
National Security ProgramsDepartment of Health and Human Services
Department of Interior
National Institutes of Health
Stem Cell Research Information
National Human Genome Research Institute
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
US Geological SurveyNational Science Foundation
History
Historical Timeline
Science, the Endless Frontier
National Science BoardNational Aeronautic and Space Administration