In this issue:
ASME ENDORSES STEM LEGISLATION, CALLS ON SENATE TO PASS COMPETES
ASME President Robert T. Simmons, P.E., recently sent a letter to Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) endorsing her bill, S. 3732, the "Innovation Inspiration School Grant Program Act of 2010." This bill would provide competitive funding to states and local school districts to allow them to participate in quality non-traditional high school-level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. In the letter, ASME President Robert T. Simmons observed, "Given both the current concern for the state of STEM education in U.S. schools and the fact that the number of jobs requiring engineering and scientific training continues to grow, greater exposure to quality non-traditional STEM programs is needed to ensure that America's future leaders remain competitive in the global economy. Non-traditional STEM programs will give high school students the skills they need to be successful in engineering programs of study or in engineering careers, while also creating opportunities for teachers and students to be mentored by STEM professionals."
Also receiving ASME's endorsement is H.R. 6078, the "21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act of 2010." The bill, introduced by Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), would provide grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls and underrepresented minorities to pursue studies and careers in STEM fields. ASME's Simmons characterized the need for the bill as follows: "The U.S. economy relies on the productivity, creativity, and entrepreneurship of all U.S. citizens. In 2007, women represented only 11.1 percent of the engineering workforce, and similarly, African Americans and Hispanics represented only 4.6 and 5.2 percent, respectively. With the predicted changes in future U.S. workforce demographics by the middle of the 21st century, increasing the participation of women and underrepresented groups in the U.S. STEM workforce is essential to bolster the percentage of the U.S. technically-trained workforce. By dramatically improving the participation of these individuals in the STEM workforce, the U.S. would ensure its future leaders remain competitive in the global economy."
While S. 3732 and H.R. 6078 are currently stand-alone bills, both sponsors have indicated an interest in their bills being included in the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization, which is slated to be considered in both the House and Senate next Congress.
The ASME Center for Public Awareness, through its active participation in the STEM Education Coalition (http://www.stemedcoalition.org), a diverse group of organizations working to increase federal investment in STEM education programs, also signed onto two letters promoting STEM-related legislation currently pending before Congress. The first letter, directed to the leadership of both the House and Senate, calls for approving the highest possible FY 2011 funding levels for STEM education programs at the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The second letter, addressed to the Senate leadership, encourages "the Senate to make the bipartisan passage of the America COMPETES Act reauthorization, S. 3605, a high priority when the Senate returns after the Fall elections."
In a related development, ASME Executive Director Thomas Loughlin's letter to the editor of the "New York Times" on the need to make STEM legislation a national priority was published in the October 29th edition. In part, his letter reads as follows: "The field of engineering has the potential to unlock students' imaginations and to make their abstract science and math lessons come to life. In the words of the great engineer and innovator Theodore von Karman, 'Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was.'"
Each of the aforementioned position
statements may be viewed.
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related STEM education issues for ASME. She can be reached at carlm@asme.org.
PRESIDENT OBAMA FLAGS ENERGY, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION AS BIPARTISAN
PRIORITIES
In an encouraging sign for the U.S. science and engineering enterprise, President Obama staked out several policy areas ripe for collaboration with newly-elected Republicans during his post-election news conference on November 3rd. In response to questions from reporters about how the White House would work with a newly empowered Republican House of Representatives, the President reiterated his support for energy policy reform and investments in scientific research and STEM education, noting that investments in science are important to economic growth and job creation.
"I think that there are some areas where it's going to be very difficult for us to agree on, but I think there are going to be a whole bunch of areas where we can agree on. I don't think there's anybody in America who thinks that we've got an energy policy that works the way it needs to; that thinks that we shouldn't be working on energy independence. And that gives opportunities for Democrats and Republicans to come together and think about, whether it's natural gas or energy efficiency or how we can build electric cars in this country, how do we move forward on that agenda.'
"I think everybody in this country thinks that we've got to make sure our kids are equipped in terms of their education, their science background, their math backgrounds, to compete in this new global economy. And that's going to be an area where I think there's potential common ground." The President continued, "I want to make sure that we're not cutting into education that is going to help define whether or not we can compete around the world. I don't think we should be cutting back on research and development, because if we can develop new technologies in areas like clean energy, that could make all the difference in terms of job creation here at home."
The President's full remarks are available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/03/press-conference-president
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related R&D issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org.
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related STEM education issues for ASME. She can be reached at carlm@asme.org.
SCIENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR RELEASES REPORT ON CLIMATE ENGINEERING
As one of his final acts as House Science and Technology Committee Chair, Bart Gordon (D-TN) released a report on climate engineering (also known as geoengineering). The 56-page "Engineering the Climate: Research Needs and Strategies for International Cooperation" identifies federal expertise and capabilities relevant to climate engineering research, and calls for transparency, public engagement, international collaboration and a robust risk assessment framework should research be pursued.
"This report is in no way meant as an endorsement of climate engineering. It is my intent that this report, and all of the Committee's activities on this subject, provide a forum for an open and honest public dialogue regarding the science of climate engineering. It gives insight into where existing federal research capacities lie that could be leveraged for these activitiesùto help preclude undesirable activities and to establish key next steps for the management and governance of research, in addition to encouraging continued conversation within the federal government on this important topic," said Bart Gordon (D-TN).
The report reviews the results of an 18-month inquiry conducted in cooperation with the United Kingdom House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. During this inquiry, the House Science and Technology Committee held three public hearings on climate engineering, and staff reviewed expert testimony and conducted informal interviews with leading political and scientific experts within federal agencies. Among the report's recommendations are the following:
- Policymakers should begin consideration of climate engineering research now to better understand which technologies or methods, if any, represent viable strategies for managing a changing climate and which pose unacceptable environmental or economic risks;
- There must be an international consensus on climate engineering terminology that will best communicate the strategies, potential risks, and desired effects to the scientific community, policy makers, and the public;
- Any federal climate engineering research program should leverage existing facilities, instruments, skills and partnerships within federal agencies;
- Governments should make public engagement a priority of any climate engineering effort; and,
- Further collaborative work between national legislatures on topics with international reach, such as climate engineering, should be pursued, and this inquiry between the United States and the United Kingdom should serve as a model for future inter-Committee collaboration.
In a related development, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) also recently released the report "Climate Change: A Coordinated Strategy Could Focus Federal Geoengineering Research and Inform Governance Efforts." That report examines the state of geoengineering science, federal involvement in geoengineering, and the views of experts and federal officials about the extent to which federal laws and international agreements apply to geoengineering, and any governance challenges. The report highlights the need for coordination across federal research entities and a clear research strategy.
A summary of the GAO report is available at: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-903, while the full 70-page report may be viewed at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10903.pdf
The Science Committee report may be read at: http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/file/Reports/EngineeringTheClimate_StaffReport.pdf. To review the Committee's work on climate engineering, go to: http://science.house.gov/RelatedByTag.aspx?KeywordID=55
Robert Rains handle public policy-related environmental issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org.
MIT STUDY: NO SHORTAGE OF URANIUM FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR DECADES
Uranium supplies will not limit the expansion of nuclear power in the U.S. or around the world for the foreseeable future, according to a major new interdisciplinary study produced under the auspices of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative. "The Future of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle" is the latest of three related studies on nuclear energy issued by MIT.
The study challenges conventional assumptions about nuclear energy. It suggests that nuclear power using today's reactor technology with a once-through fuel cycle can play a significant part in displacing the world's carbon-emitting fossil-fuel plants, and thus help to reduce the potential for global climate change. But determining the best fuel cycle for the next generation of nuclear power plants will require more research, the report concludes.
The report focuses on what is known as the "nuclear fuel cycle" - a concept that encompasses both the kind of fuel used to power a reactor (currently, most of the world's reactors run on mined uranium that has been enriched, while a few run on plutonium) and what happens to the fuel after it has been used (either stored on site or disposed of underground - a "once-through" cycle - or reprocessed to yield new reactor fuel).
Ernest J. Moniz, director of the MIT Energy Initiative and co-chair of the new study, says the report's conclusion that uranium supplies will not limit growth of the industry runs contrary to the view that had prevailed for decades - one that guided decisions about which technologies were viable. "The failure to understand the extent of the uranium resource was a very big deal" for determining which fuel cycles were developed and the schedule of their development, he says.
The report also concludes that in the United States, significant changes are needed in the planning and implementation of spent-fuel storage and disposal options, including the creation of a new quasi-governmental body to oversee the process. Planning for how to deal with the spent fuel should be closely integrated with studies of the optimal fuel cycle, the authors suggest.
The report strongly recommends that interim storage of spent nuclear fuel for a century or so, preferably in regional consolidated sites, is the best option. This allows the fuel to cool, and most importantly preserves future fuel-cycle choices to eventually send the fuel to a geological repository or reprocess it for energy resource and/or waste-management benefits. The optimal choice will reflect future conditions, such as the scale of nuclear-power deployment and the state of technology and its costs.
The report also strongly supports the present U.S. government policy of providing loan guarantees for the first several new nuclear plants to be built under revised licensing rules. Positive experience with "first-mover" plants - the first of these new U.S. plants built after the current long hiatus - could reduce or eliminate financing premiums for nuclear-plant construction.
The 36-page study is available at http://web.mit.edu/mitei/docs/spotlights/nuclear-fuel-cycle.pdf
Robert Rains handle public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY ENDS NOVEMBER
30TH
The public is invited to comment on the 2010 Strategic Plan for the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), the framework that underpins the nanotechnology work of 25 NNI member agencies. The NNI is the interagency program for coordinating research and development (R&D) and enhancing communication and collaborative activities in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Its objective is to ensure that advances in nanotechnology R&D and their applications to agency missions and the broader national interest continue unabated in this still-young area of R&D.
The NNI Strategic Plan represents the consensus of the participating agencies as to the high-level goals and priorities of the NNI and specific objectives for at least the next three years. It describes the four overarching goals of the NNI:
- Advance a world-class nanotechnology research and development program;
- Foster the transfer of new technologies into products for commercial and public benefit;
- Develop and sustain educational resources, a skilled workforce, and the supporting infrastructure and tools to advance nanotechnology; and,
- Support responsible development of nanotechnology.
Comments of approximately one page or less (4,000 characters) may be submitted through November 30th. Comments may be posted as a registered community member at the NNI Strategy Portal (http://strategy.nano.gov/) or e-mailed to nnistrategy@ostp.gov. Information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information, should not be included as all public comments may be made available for public inspection.
To view the NNI 2010 Strategic Plan, visit http://strategy.nano.gov/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/draft-NNI-Strategic-Plan-2010-11-014.pdf.
FUEL ECONOMY GUIDE LEAVES ELECTRIC VEHICLES OFF THE LIST FOR NOW
In September, for the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency released labels assigning letter grades to vehicles, which will not apply until 2012. The letter grades would have a range from an A-plus to a D and would be prominently displayed on the vehicles in dealerships. The grades would be a reflection of the vehicle's fuel economy and tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions. All electric vehicles would be awarded a higher grade because they consume less gasoline, while vehicles that have a low mileage would receive worse grades. But so far, for model year 2011, hybrids and all electric vehicles have been omitted from the ratings.
The annual fuel-economy guide, which is posted online and in auto dealer showrooms, provides estimated mileage and fuel costs for vehicles in model year 2011. The guide predicts an estimated annual fuel cost based on annual mileage and fuel prices.
Beginning in January 2011, the Administration will be releasing a new medium-duty passenger vehicle standard as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act (P.L. 110-140) provisions which raised the minimum mileage standards for vehicle fleets (See the December 21st 2007 Edition of Capitol Update).
"Increasing fuel efficiency is important for our environment, our economy and out health and it helps families save money at the pump," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. "This guide will help consumers make the right choice for the environment and for their wallets when buying a car."
For electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, these agencies are proposing to show energy use by translating the electricity that they get from the electric grid into the equivalent of miles per gallon. For electric vehicles, the proposed design also includes energy use expressed in terms of kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. Also, the new label will show how many miles these vehicles can go before they have to be recharged or refueled. The 60-day public comment period began with the proposal's publication in the Federal Register in late September. Comments are due by midnight on November 22nd.
For more information on the fuel economy guide, please visit: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
For more information about the standards for vehicles or to provide comments, please visit: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-22321.pdf
Robert Rains handle public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org.
NAE SELECTS PARTICIPANTS FOR SECOND FRONTIERS OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
SYMPOSIUM
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has selected 53 of the nation's most innovative young engineering educators to take part in its second Frontiers of Engineering Education (FOEE) symposium. Early-career faculty members who are developing and implementing innovative educational approaches in a variety of engineering disciplines will come together for the two and one-half day event, where they can share ideas, learn from research and best practice in education, and leave with a charter to bring about improvement in their home institution. The symposium will be held December 13-16 in Irvine, CA.
"The Frontiers of Engineering Education program creates a unique venue for engineering faculty members to share and explore interesting and effective innovations in teaching and learning," said NAE President Charles M. Vest. "We intend for FOEE to become a major force in identifying, recognizing, and promulgating advances and innovations in order to build a strong intellectual infrastructure and commitment to 21st-century engineering education."
This year's program will focus on ways to ensure that students learn the engineering fundamentals, the expanding knowledge base of new technology, and the skills necessary to be an effective engineer or engineering researcher. "In our increasingly global and competitive world, the United States needs to marshal its resources to address the strategic shortfall of engineering leaders in the next decades," said Edward F. Crawley, Ford Professor of Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the chair of the FOEE planning committee. "By holding this event, we have recognized some of the finest young engineering educators in the nation, and will better equip them to transform the educational process at their universities."
The list of participants may be viewed at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=10182010b
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at: carlm@asme.org.
THE ARTICLES CONTAINED IN CAPITOL UPDATE ARE NOT POSITIONS OF ASME OR ANY OF ITS SUB-ENTITIES, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY NOTED AS SUCH. THIS PUBLICATION IS DESIGNED TO INFORM ASME MEMBERS ABOUT ISSUES OF CONCERN BEING DEBATED AND DISCUSSED IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS, IN THE STATES, AND IN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES.
EDITOR: Mary James Legatski, ASME Government Relations, 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 906, Washington, DC 20036-5104.