AIP FYI # 132: White House S&T Council Discusses IT, Workforce, Nanotechnology
The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
(PCAST) met in September to review work in progress on information
technology, the science and engineering workforce, and
nanotechnology. Final reports are scheduled to be released in
coming months.
OSTP Director and PCAST Co-Chair John Marburger and Co-Chair Floyd
Kvamme started this all-day meeting by noting PCAST was “one of the
inputs to policy here.” They explained that two reports the
council would discuss were not ready for release. Following that
introduction, George Scalise, President of the Semiconductor
Industry Association, outlined the findings of the Subcommittee on
Information Technology Manufacturing and Competitiveness.
The subcommittee focused on information technology because of its
implications for the American economy. Twenty sessions have been
held with Bush Administration, academic, and industrial leaders.
Scalise reported both good and bad news. IT has been responsible
for 30% of the growth in the American economy. However, IT
manufacturing in America is declining as international companies
increase market share. While America still has large advantages
over foreign competitors, these advantages, Scalise cautioned, are
not absolute. Overseas manufacturers have the advantages of being
closer to markets, lower labor and capital costs, and significant
assistance from their governments. While there are positive
developments in the United States, such as strong state leadership
(NY, VA, and TX being cited as good examples), university R&D
support, an educated workforce, and some friendly tax policies,
America’s future IT leadership is not assured.
Some of these same problems were discussed by Robert Herbold,
Executive Vice President for Microsoft Corporation, in his
presentation about the work of the Subcommittee on Science &
Engineering Workforce/Education. How does the United States stand
on the supply and demand for this workforce?, he asked, replying
that the answer was not clear. Projections from the Department of
Commerce indicate an oversupply, while those from the Council on
Competitiveness point toward an insufficient number of students.
While it is difficult to predict the long-term future, it is
possible to look at short term prospects. Herbold spoke of many
financial service positions being moved overseas. Software and
mechanical engineering jobs are moving to India, where salaries are
10% of those paid to Americans. Also contributing to these changes
are the number of American university students majoring in
engineering. In China, 39% of all students are studying
engineering, as compared to just 5% in the United States. “What is
occurring is a massive exodus of jobs,” Herbold told PCAST. His
subcommittee’s most important finding for policymakers was that “we
have a shift here of monumental proportions” in jobs and
competitiveness. Key to reversing these trends in strengthening the
U.S. innovative base, that being accomplished by greatly improving
student proficiency in math and science. A key to doing so is
improving classroom teachers though a salary merit system. About
this, Herbold said, “there’s gold in them there hills.”
The final presentation was by G. Wayne Clough, President of the
Georgia Institute of Technology. Clough discussed the results of
different surveys by the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group.
He described nine different nanotechnology breakthroughs predicted
in the next five years, in fields ranging from materials to homeland
security. In surveying experts, the vast majority felt that federal
funding for nanotechnology was insufficient. There were not clear
linkages between nanotechnology policy and national science and
technology objectives, and goals and deadlines were not well
defined. Clough stressed the importance of not emphasizing
short-term research needs over longer-term needs. His group also
found that too many excellent proposals were being turned down for
lack of funding. President Bush, Clough stated, should announce a
bold nanotechnology initiative with clearly stated goals and
expectations, supported with substantially higher funding. Looking
at the current situation, Clough told PCAST members that “the
feeling is we aren’t here today.”
Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org http://www.aip.org/gov
(301) 209-3094
