Science and Technology Policymaking: A Primer PDF Download

Author: Deborah D. Stine
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437920020
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 42

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Book Description
Contents: Overview of U.S. Science and Technology Policy; What are Some Perspectives on Science and Technology Policy?; Who Makes Decisions Regarding Science and Technology Policy in Congress?; Who Makes Decisions Regarding Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Branch?; Who Makes Decisions in the Judicial Branch Regarding Science and Technology Policy?; What Organizations Provide Science and Technology Advice to Policymakers?; What Are the Opportunities and Challenges of the Current Science and Technology Policy Decisionmaking Process?. Charts and tables.

Author: Alfred T. Barrios
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers
ISBN: 9781606924396
Category : Science and state
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Scientific and technical knowledge and guidance influences not just policy related to science and technology, but also many of today's public policies as policymakers seek knowledge to enhance the quality of their decisions. Science and technology policy is concerned with the allocation of resources for and encouragement of scientific and engineering research and development, the use of scientific and technical knowledge to enhance the nation's response to societal challenges, and the education of Americans in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Science and engineering research and innovations are intricately linked to societal needs and the nation's economy in areas such as transportation, communication, agriculture, education, environment, health, defence, and jobs. As a result, policymakers are interested in almost every aspect of science and technology policy. The three branches of government; executive, congressional, and judiciary; depending on each branch's responsibility, use science and technology knowledge and guidance to frame policy issues, craft legislation, and govern. The science and engineering community, however, is not represented by one individual or organisation. On matters of scientific and technical knowledge and guidance, its opinions are consensus-based with groups of scientists and engineers coming together from different perspectives to debate an issue based on the available empirical evidence. In the end, consensus is achieved if there is widespread agreement on the evidence and its implications, which is conveyed to policymakers. Policymakers then determine, based on this knowledge and other factors, whether or not to take action and what actions to take. If there are major disagreements within large portions of the community, however, consensus is not yet achieved, and taking policy actions in response to a concern can be challenging. Several organisations, when requested by the federal government or Congress, provide formal science and technology policy advice: federal advisory committees, congressionally chartered honorific organisations, and federally funded research and development corporations. In addition, many other organisations and individuals -- international intergovernmental organisations, policy institutes/think tanks, the public, professional organisations, disciplinary societies, universities and colleges, advocacy, special interest, industry, trade associations, and labour -- also provide their thoughts. These organisations may agree on the scientific and technical knowledge regarding an issue, but disagree on what actions to take in response, as their values on a proposed policy may differ. Policymakers may be overwhelmed with an abundance of information from these organisations. Despite these challenges, scientific and technical knowledge and guidance can provide policymakers with an opportunity to make their decisions based on the best information available, along with other factors they might take into account, such as cultural, economic, and other values, so that societal and economic benefits are enhanced and losses are mitigated.

Author: Julia I. Lane
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 0804781605
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
Basic scientific research and technological development have had an enormous impact on innovation, economic growth, and social well-being. Yet science policy debates have long been dominated by advocates for particular scientific fields or missions. In the absence of a deeper understanding of the changing framework in which innovation occurs, policymakers cannot predict how best to make and manage investments to exploit our most promising and important opportunities. Since 2005, a science of science policy has developed rapidly in response to policymakers' increased demands for better tools and the social sciences' capacity to provide them. The Science of Science Policy: A Handbook brings together some of the best and brightest minds working in science policy to explore the foundations of an evidence-based platform for the field. The contributions in this book provide an overview of the current state of the science of science policy from three angles: theoretical, empirical, and policy in practice. They offer perspectives from the broader social science, behavioral science, and policy communities on the fascinating challenges and prospects in this evolving arena. Drawing on domestic and international experiences, the text delivers insights about the critical questions that create a demand for a science of science policy.

Author: Heather B. Gonzalez
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
ISBN: 9781479106103
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
The term “STEM education” refers to teaching and learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It typically includes educational activities across all grade levels—from pre-school to post-doctorate—in both formal (e.g., classrooms) and informal (e.g., afterschool programs) settings. Federal policymakers have an active and enduring interest in STEM education and the topic is frequently raised in federal science, education, workforce, national security, and immigration policy debates. For example, more than 200 bills containing the term “science education” were introduced between the 100th and 110th congresses. The United States is widely believed to perform poorly in STEM education. However, the data paint a complicated picture. By some measures, U.S. students appear to be doing quite well. For example, overall graduate enrollments in science and engineering (S&E) grew 35% over the last decade. Further, S&E enrollments for Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, and African American students (all of whom are generally underrepresented in S&E) grew by 65%, 55%, and 50%, respectively. On the other hand, concerns remain about persistent academic achievement gaps between various demographic groups, STEM teacher quality, the rankings of U.S. students on international STEM assessments, foreign student enrollments and increased education attainment in other countries, and the ability of the U.S. STEM education system to meet domestic demand for STEM labor. Various attempts to assess the federal STEM education effort have produced different estimates of its scope and scale. Analysts have identified between 105 and 252 STEM education programs or activities at 13 to 15 federal agencies. Annual federal appropriations for STEM education are typically in the range of $2.8 billion to $3.4 billion. All published inventories identify the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and Health and Human Services as key agencies in the federal effort. Over half of federal STEM education funding is intended to serve the needs of postsecondary schools and students; the remainder goes to efforts at the kindergarten-through-Grade 12 level. Much of the funding for post-secondary students is in the form of financial aid. Federal STEM education policy concerns center on issues that relate to STEM education as a whole—such as governance of the federal effort and broadening participation of underrepresented populations—as well as those that are specific to STEM education at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels. Governance concerns focus on perceived duplication and lack of coordination in the federal effort; broadening participation concerns tend to highlight achievement gaps between various demographic groups. Analysts suggest a variety of policy proposals in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary STEM education. At the K-12 level, these include proposals to address teacher quality, accountability, and standards. At the post-secondary level, proposals center on efforts to remediate and retain students in STEM majors. This report is intended to serve as a primer for outlining existing STEM education policy issues and programs. It includes assessments of the federal STEM education effort and the condition of STEM education in the United States, as well as an analysis of several of the policy issues central to the contemporary federal conversation about STEM education. Appendix A contains frequently cited data and sources and Appendix B includes a selection of major STEM-related acts.

Author: Sheila Jasanoff
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Science and state
Languages : en
Pages : 690

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Book Description
Science and technology policy is widely recognized as a critically important sphere of state activity. This book presents an authoritative overview of comparative research on science and technology policy in order to illuminate the choices that confront decision makers in this field. With contributions from various disciplines including economics, political science, law and science and technology studies, the selection of articles reflects both traditional perspectives and those which challenge conventional assumptions. The book covers such topics as the relationship between science and the state, and comparisons of how different governments seek to support and regulate scientific research, technology, industrial innovation and global competitiveness. Finally it looks at how international influences can affect national policies.

Author: Thomas Kuehn
Publisher: Cornell University Press
ISBN: 1501744038
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 540

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Book Description
Science, Technology, and National Policy is the first collection of essays to deal with technology as it relates to, and is influenced by, public policy-making. Bringing together twenty-five of the most significant papers on this topic, the editors seek to provide a broad perspective, to sample the full spectrum of core concerns in technology policy, and to stimulate critical thinking. Part One treats the social, political, economic, and international concerns that affect technology policy. Part Two examines how different government institutions deal with technology, including the federal executive, Congress, courts, and state and local governments. Ideal for professional and course use, this volume offers an excellent framework for discussing and coming to terms with these complex issues.

Author: Sylvia Kraemer
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
ISBN: 0813539471
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 343

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Book Description
During the latter half of the twentieth century, federal funding in the United States for scientific research and development increased dramatically. Yet despite the infusion of public funds into research centers, the relationship between public policy and research and development remains poorly understood. How does the federal government attempt to harness scientific knowledge and resources for the nation's economic welfare and competitiveness in the global marketplace? Who makes decisions about controversial scientific experiments, such as genetic engineering and space exploration? Who is held accountable when things go wrong? In this lucidly-written introduction to the topic, Sylvia Kraemer draws upon her extensive experience in government to develop a useful and powerful framework for thinking about the American approach to shaping and managing scientific innovation. Kraemer suggests that the history of science, technology, and politics is best understood as a negotiation of ongoing tensions between open and closed systems. Open systems depend on universal access to information that is complete, verifiable, and appropriately used. Closed systems, in contrast, are composed of unique and often proprietary features, which are designed to control usage. From the Constitution's patent clause to current debates over intellectual property, stem cells, and internet regulation, Kraemer shows the promise-as well as the limits-of open systems in advancing scientific progress as well as the nation's economic vitality.

Author: F. Tisdell
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401169322
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 222

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Book Description
I was asked recently to prepare an independent background report on the subject of priority assessment in science and technology policy for the Australian Science and Technology Council. The Council (while not necessarily endorsing this book) suggested that a wider audience could be interested in the type of material contained in my report and kindly gave me permission to publish the material in my own right. The present book contains this and other material, some of which was presented at a seminar on National Science Policy: Implications for Government Departments arranged by the Department of Science and the Environment. Additional ideas were developed in response to comments on the manuscript by referees, as a result of discussions with Professor John Metcalfe and Dr Peter Stubbs of Manchester University, a conversation with Dr Keith Hartley of the University of York and in the wake of a communication from Dr Ken Tucker, Assistant Director, Bureau of Industry Economics, Australia. Science and technology policy affects and concerns everyone of us if for no other reason than we cannot escape in this interdependent world from the economic, social and environmental overs pills generated by science and technology. We must face the problems and promises inherent in new and existing science and technology whether we like it or not. Not surprisingly this book finds that all industrialized countries seem to be facing similar economic and social problems.

Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309172640
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 125

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Book Description
Issues involving science, technology, and health (STH) have moved to the forefront of the international diplomatic agenda. Other vital issues linked to technological developments pervade longer-range foreign policy concerns. Thus, STH considerations are often central to the Department of State's bilateral and multilateral interactions with other governments. STH aspects play a large role in discussions of such critical topics as nuclear nonproliferation, use of outer space, population growth, adequate and safe food supply, climate change, infectious diseases, energy resources, and competitiveness of industrial technologies. In addressing these issues, expert STH knowledge is essential to the anticipation and resolution of problems and to the achievement of foreign policy goals. The Department, recognizing that it requires strengthened capabilities to address such an array of topics, asked for suggestions by the National Research Council as to how it could better deal with foreign policy issues with STH content.

Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Competition, International
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description