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Science, Technology and Innovation
Latest Blog Posts 
- December 13, 2012 at 9:12 AM EST
Get with the Programming!
This week marks what would have been the 106th birthday of Grace Hopper—an American Naval Officer known to some as “Amazing Grace” and to others as the “Mother of Computing,” whose work laid the foundation for one of the first modern computer programming languages. In recognition of her pioneering example, students, parents, schools, and communities across the Nation are spending a week in celebration of computer science education.
- December 12, 2012 at 3:29 PM EST
Backing PCAST, Commissioners Propose Spectrum Sharing
Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed new rules governing how wireless broadband providers can share the airwaves with Government users, adopting an innovative model first proposed earlier this year by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) in its landmark report, Realizing the Full Potential of Government-Held Spectrum to Spur Economic Growth. The action comes amidst an array of Administration initiatives aimed at freeing up more spectrum for wireless broadband in order to drive productivity, jobs, and innovation, while also protecting the essential Government systems.
- December 12, 2012 at 9:31 AM EST
Making Makers in Los Angeles
Soon after taking office in 2009, in a speech at the National Academy of Sciences, President Obama called on the science, engineering, and technology communities to “encourage young people to create and build and invent – to be makers of things not just consumers of things.” Here’s what one leader in the maker community shared about her experience bringing kids and families into the growing community of American makers.
- December 7, 2012 at 1:56 PM EST
Students Speak: “Why I’m in STEM”
This week, OSTP asked winners and finalists from the 2012 Siemens Foundation student competition in Math, Science, and Technology to tell us why they are pursuing STEM and what it means to them. Here's what they had to say.
- December 4, 2012 at 6:05 PM EST
OSTP Director to Stellar STEM Students: “Keep Innovating!”
On Monday in Washington, DC, OSTP Director John Holdren spoke to an audience of scientists and innovators, including the student finalists of the Siemens Foundation Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. He made the case that a solid STEM education is one of the most powerful routes to a career that is both successful and meaningful to society.
- November 30, 2012 at 12:44 PM EST
HUD and Partners Pitch in to Help Families Find Housing Following Hurricane Sandy
Post-Sandy, HUD, OSTP, and several tech companies teamed up to help families in need of alternative housing.
- November 29, 2012 at 3:33 PM EST
$25M in Research Awards to Advance Administration’s Materials Genome Initiative
Last month, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than$25 million of funding for innovative materials-science research projects. The research awards are a significant milestone for the Administration’s Materials Genome Initiative (MGI)—a collaborative effort of public, private, and academic leaders to make the discovery, development, and deployment of cutting-edge materials faster and cheaper than ever before.
- November 16, 2012 at 5:20 PM EST
USAID Launches Development Labs at Seven Universities
Last week, OSTP Director John P. Holdren joined USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah in launching the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) – a groundbreaking partnership between USAID and seven top universities that is designed to harness the ingenuity of faculty and students to help solve global development challenges.
FEATURED TOPICS
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING: On July 17, 2012, the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee, working within the framework of PCAST and co-chaired by Andrew Liveris of Dow Chemical and Susan Hockfield of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, outlined recommendations for spurring investment and positioning the U.S. for long-term leadership in advanced manufacturing in a new report, Capturing Domestic Competitive Advantage in Advanced Manufacturing.
US IGNITE: On June 14, 2012, the President signed an Executive Order to make broadband construction along Federal roadways and properties up to 90 percent cheaper and more efficient. Additionally, the White House announced that nearly 100 partners—including cities, national research institutions, and industry supporters—have formed a new public-private partnership called “US Ignite.” The US Ignite Partnership will create a new wave of services that take advantage of state-of-the-art broadband networks running up to 100 times faster than today’s Internet.
PRIZES TO SPUR INNOVATION: On April 10, 2012, OSTP released a comprehensive report detailing the use of prizes and competitions by agencies to spur innovation and solve grand challenges. Those efforts have expanded in recent months under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which granted all Federal agencies authority to conduct prize competitions to spur innovation, solve tough problems, and advance their core missions.
WHITE HOUSE SCIENCE FAIR:
On February 7th, 2012, President Obama hosted the second White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President announced key steps the Administration and its partners are taking to help more students excel in math and science, and earn degrees in these subjects.
- President Obama Hosts the White House Science Fair
- Bill Nye: Recognizing the Importance of Scientists, Engineers, and Inventors
- Background on the Exhibits, Students and Competitions at the White House Science Fair
PRESSROOM
December 7, 2012 - Presidential Report Calls for New “Innovation Ecosystem” for Agricultural Research (pdf)
November 30, 2012 - Report to President Calls for Renewed National Focus on Basic Research to Sustain Innovation, Create Jobs (pdf)
July 17, 2012 - Report to President Outlines Approaches to Spur Domestic Manufacturing Investment and Innovation (pdf)
June 20, 2012 - Statement of Dr. John P. Holdren to the Committee on Science, Space and Technology United States House of Representatives (pdf)
May 2, 2012 - New Industry Commitments to Give Over 3 Million New Households and Businesses Tools to Shrink Their Energy Bills (pdf)
April 26, 2012 - National Bioeconomy Blueprint (pdf)
April 10, 2012 - Implementation of Federal Prize Authority: Progress Report (pdf)
March 29, 2012 - Big Data Fact Sheet (pdf)
March 29, 2012 - Big Data Press Release (pdf)
March 22, 2012 - Statements of Support for Green Button Initiative
March 22, 2012 - New Industry Commitments to Give 15 Million Households Tools to Shrink Their Energy Bills
February 29, 2012 - Statement of Dr. John P. Holdren to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations U.S. House of Representatives on Research and Development in the President's Fiscal Year 2013 Budget (pdf)
February 17, 2012 - Statement of Dr. John P. Holdren to the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, on Research and Development in the President's Fiscal Year 2013 Budget (pdf)
February 13, 2012 - Innovation for America’s Economy, America’s Energy, and American Skills: The FY 2013 Science and Technology R&D Budget (pdf)
February 7, 2012 - Background on the Exhibits, Students and Competitions at the White House Science Fair
February 7, 2012 - President Obama to Host White House Science Fair
