What to do For and With the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (June 21, 2008)

While nothing will happen with regard to the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) until after George W Bush takes his leave of the White House on January 20, 2009, Australia's Chief Scientist will probably be appointed within the next two to three months.

The redoubtable Bob Park in his What's New blog has some cogent comments regarding the OSTP which would be worth considering by Australian Rudd government when deciding what to do with the Chief Scientist's office.

OSTP: URGENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
On Monday, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars held a  media briefing to release a [28-page] report, OSTP 2.0, Critical Upgrade. Drawing  on the advice of former Presidential Science Advisors, the report calls on  the next President to:

1. Name a Cabinet-level Assistant for Science and Technology Policy early,

2. Integrate OSTP with other policymaking bodies in the White House, and

3. Establish mechanisms to obtain expert advice in a timely manner.

Above all, the Science Advisor must have easy access to the President.

Written by some of the smartest science-policy experts in Washington, the report refrains from bashing the current OSTP. What’s New is under no such restraint.

According to the Institute's report following are the: