White House Releases Its Vision For Science: What Role For Energy?
White House "Science: A New Golden Age" proposes radical change to U.S. science, with energy a core theme. Only nuclear power is mentioned, mainly for political reasons.
A recent White House report, titled "Science: A New Golden Age," has received harsh criticism from U.S. scientists. The document calls for a fundamental restructuring of the American research system, moving away from universities and individual investigator-led projects towards large teams focusing on ambitious challenges. The report prioritizes physical sciences and foregoes peer review, which stands in stark contrast to the post-World War II scientific model.
The report hails nuclear power as the driving force of future energy, connecting it to artificial intelligence and manufacturing, while attributing U.S. scientific decline to past regulations. Critics argue the document misrepresents history, undervalues foundational research, and threatens political control over the scientific community, potentially causing significant harm to the nation's research infrastructure.
The White House's stance on energy is particularly notable. Contrary to expectations, the report does not advocate for hydrocarbons, instead focusing on nuclear power as the key to unlocking a new golden age in science. This perspective is corroborated in the report's section "Securing U.S. Dominance in Critical and Emerging Technologies," which emphasizes nuclear technology's pivotal role in establishing the U.S. as the preeminent global leader in science.
Written by urgent.news from Forbes's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
