SENATE RUSSELL OFFICE BUILDING
DELAWARE AND CONSTITUTION AVENUES, SE
WASHINGTON, DC  20510

PLENARY SESSION - 2:00 PM - 5:45 PM

Attendance:

PCAST Members:  John A. Young (Co-Chair); Neal Lane (Co-Chair); Francisco J. Ayala; John Deutch; Murray Gell-Mann; David  Hamburg; John P. Holdren; Diana MacArthur; Shirley M. Malcom; Mario J. Molina; Sally K Ride; Charles Sanders, Charles M. Vest; Virginia V. Weldon; Lillian Shiao-Yen Wu.

Staff: Arthur Bienenstock; Rosina Bierbaum; Kerri-Ann Jones; Duncan Moore;
Joan P. Porter

Public Attendance:  Approximately 50 members of the public, including the press, were present.

Welcome

John Young, PCAST Co-Chair, opened the meeting at 2:10 PM September 17.

Perspective from the House of Representatives

Representative Vernon J. Ehlers (R-MI) discussed the forthcoming report on the Nation's Science Policy Report.  It is due to be released near the end of September.

Representative George E. Brown, Jr. (D-CA) next presented his views on S&T budget considerations and planning for the future.

PCAST members discussed current legislative proposals, the future S&T, and growth of the enterprise.
 

Perspective from the Senate

Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) offered remarks about legislation he introduced with Senator Rockefeller, S-2217, the Federal Research Investment Act.  After brief questions and comments from PCAST members, Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV, (D-WVA) provided comments on the legislation and views on the strength of the S&T enterprise.  PCAST discussion followed.

State and Local Perspective on S&T - Making Partnerships Work

Gary Bachula, Acting Under Secretary, Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce addressed the PCAST on ways to improve State/Federal Partnerships.  He spoke about the U.S. Innovation Partnership.  Copies of overheads are part of the written record of the meeting.

Former Governor Richard Thornburgh, Co-Chair State and Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), spoke about State Federal partnerships and a survey of States' R&D expenditures SSTI is about the release.  Copies of the draft report are part of the written record in this meeting.

A panel of practitioners next presented examples of State Federal partnerships and critiqued them with a view to developing successful State/Federal relationships.

Panel Members included Delbert J. Schuh, II, President, Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation; Dr. Carolyn Sales, President, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology; Edward O'Connor, Jr., Executive Director, Spaceport Florida Authority.

Copies of panelists' overheads are part of the written record of the meeting

Report on the National Academy of Science (NAS) Study of S&T in the Department of State:  "Science Technology, and Health Issues and U.S. Foreign Policy-

Dr. Robert Frosch, NAS Study Chairman (Senior Research Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University) discussed the Interim Report of the NAS study groups and the findings and recommendation to date released earlier in September. The study group will continue its work to produce in final report.
Dr. Frosch was accompanied by Dr. Glenn Schweitzer, Director, Office for Central Europe and Eurasia, Office of International Affairs, NAS.  PCAST members discussed briefly the findings and their implication for international S&T.

PCAST Study of International Cooperation in Energy R&D

Dr. John Holdren, PCAST member and study Panel Chair discussed the PCAST International Cooperation in Energy R&D study that has just begun.  President Clinton asked Dr. Lane to work with the National Science and Technology Council agencies, industry, universities other organizations, and with PCAST to review the international energy R&D portfolio.  Dr. Lane, in turn, called on PCAST and Dr. Holdren to conduct the study that Dr. Holdren outlined in his discussion.

Dr. holdren's overheads are part of the written record of the meeting.

Public Comment

The following persons provided public comment:

Robert I. Stern, Consultant in Technology Management, Washington, DC

David Z. Beckler, Fairfax, VA

Adjournment

Neal Lane, adjourned the meeting at 5:43 PM
 

Minutes submitted by:
 

Joan P. Porter
Executive Secretary
Presidential Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology
 

Approved:
 
 

Neal Lane
Co-Chair, President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology
 
 
 

John A. Young
Co-Chair, President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology
 

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President's Committee of Advisors
on Science and Technology
(PCAST)
1600 Pennsylvania Ave,N.W
Washington, DC 20502
202.456.6100
Information@ostp.eop.gov

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