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PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM An analysis of public policy issues and how they affect MRS members and the materials community...

Bringing Science and Technology Back to Congress Congress is filled with members who have a broad range of expertise. Among the 535 members, there are scores of legal experts, business executives, educators, and community leaders. But there are only a handful of scientists. In fact, less than 5% of current members have any scientific or technical training at all. More troubling still, Congress lacks a meaningful mechanism for receiving scientific and technological advice. A brief review of the legislative agenda reveals that nearly every issue is in some way linked to science and technology. Just recently, Congress debated vital bills on stem cell research, energy policy, nanotechnology, and forest management. All of these topics require detailed scientific and technological analysis for accurate policy formulation. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have put an even higher demand on lawmakers to grasp highly specialized scientific information. How can we responsibly address bioterrorism, airport security, and cybersecurity without the help of experts? Last year, the federal government spent billions of dollars on homeland security technology with limited understanding of the merits and effectiveness of the projects being funded. Congress used to have scientific expertise at its disposal. The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was established in 1972 because lawmakers recognized a need for the legislative branch to have its own source of technical analysis. During its existence, the OTA provided Congress with unbiased technical analysis. In analyzing technological issues, the OTA adopted an interdisciplinary approach that resulted in reports that provided Congress with alternative views on a problem. To ensure a balanced approach, a Technology Assessment Board (TAB)—comprising six representatives and six senators, equally divided between Democrats and Republicans—governed the OTA. At its peak, the OTA employed about 200 permanent staff members. Two-thirds of the staff consisted of professional research personnel with advanced degrees. Other research personnel were brought in temporarily to provide supplemental analysis for specific projects. To ensure a balanced approach, the OTA staff, outside experts, and the TAB reviewed all reports before they were released to the requesting committee. The OTA produced more than 750 reports in its 23 years of existence, and many of these reports are still relevant and in use. These reports cover a wide range of

MRS BULLETIN/OCTOBER 2003

Rep. Rush D. Holt topics, including missile defense, biological diversity, and alternative energies. The topics covered by OTA also include many related to materials science: advanced materials design, miniaturization technologies, microelectronics research and development, and commercialization of hightemperature superconductivity. All of the OTA’s reports are available on the Web at URL www.wws.princeton.edu/~ota