Ralph Cicerone, President U.S. National Academy of Sciences Gives Some Advice. (April 24, 2009)

The president of the National Academy of Sciences, Ralph Cicerone has written the editorial for today's issue of Science on "How to Keep Science Moving".

As a follow up to the US$10.5 billion stimulus package which is designated to be spent over these next two years, it'll come as no surprise that he opens with: "If the U.S. Congress and administration are to continue to advance science research and education and to rely on science in policy-making, then scientists must do much more to show how science works and how scientific research contributes to the nation."

He then notes that: "While testifying at a recent House Appropriations hearing, I witnessed much goodwill toward science, scientists, and science educators in the bipartisan support for items in the stimulus package. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle also seemed motivated to improve science education at all levels."

Professor Cicerone also make a point which Australian researchers ought to heed with at least the same care as those in the US.

Scientists must do more to demonstrate the value of investing in science. Their first duty, of course, is to do good research while adhering to high ethical standards of openness and honesty. Yet to energize the public and its elected representatives, scientists must talk more with them, both through scientific societies and as individual scientists, person to person... Encounters at home are often more effective than those in Washington. Former Congressman John Porter, who did so much to double the budget of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, once told me that few of his congressional colleagues had much time for science, but that each and every one of them who had visited a science laboratory in his or her home district emerged as an enthusiast.

From the Australian perspective that should suggest strongly, that the one day a year that scientists are organised to meet federal parliamentarians at Parliament House needs a marked expansion, and that must include communicating with their local community and business leaders as well as with their federal and state parliamentary members.

Professor Cicerone's take home message?: "Only if scientists do their part will there be the broad and deep public support that is so essential for science to flourish and for the public to engage with science. Scientists have great stories to tell, and many important people want to hear them. So let's get going and tell them."