Obama the Science Guy

Freedom!

"Be free, be free!" That's the triumphant shout releasing scientists from the clutches of a sinister ideological monster (You Know Who, or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named). Obama addressed (among others) the National Federation of Sciences April 28th (video ahead), and in his speech he pledged three percent of GDP (gross domestic product) to research. He noted that, due to the political and economic state of the nation of the world, some “ say we cannot afford to invest in science...", that "The support for research is somehow a luxury at moments that are defined by necessities." He responds, however, saying "I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment and our quality of life than it has ever been before.”

Obama will not permit our nation to fall behind, and he has thereby pledged, along with devoting three percent of the GDP to research, to establish a new initiative—the APRA-E, or the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, to double the budgets of important agencies inclduing the Nationl Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technologies, to increase funding for National Institutes of Health (notably $6 billion to support cancer research), and more.

Without a doubt, Obama is incredibly enthusiastic about and devoted to the sciences. In fact, shortly after his inauguration, Obama was quoted as saying to Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn), House Science and Technology Committee chairman, that "I'm a science guy." Needless to say, I'm pretty pleased about that. Obama the Science Guy...not quite the ring of Bill Nye the Science Guy, but it's got me just as hyped. Here's to the new age of science!

The Speech from the 28th: