Flying Blind: The Rise, Fall, and Possible Resurrection of Science Policy Advice in the United States

摘要

The need for effective science and technology advice continues to increase while the infrastructure for providing such help is in a state of crisis. The President and the Congress are constantly confronted with decisions about new medical technologies, advanced weapon systems, wireless communication regulation, and other matters that hinge on technical facts. While technical analysis is almost never sufficient to make wise choices, absent competent, timely, targeted scientific and technical analysis, these decisions will depend on unchallenged assertions by special interests and ideologues. Programs are likely to be poorly designed and subject to costly mistakes. Even worse, lacking competent advice, the nation may fail to act on problems until they are costly and difficult to solve or fail to seize important opportunities to achieve public objectives in security, education, health care, the environment, or other critical areas. This report develops options for improving the fundamental structures of science and technology advice based on examination of two cases where science and technology advice did not serve the nation well, interviews with many of the key figures in science and technology advice for Congress and the administration, and a review of recent literature.