Statements by Dr. Neal Lane and Dr. Richard Zare on President Clinton's Intent to Nominate Dr. Lane as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director, Office of Science & Technology Policy
February 13, 1998
PS 98-6
Contact:
Bill Noxon
(703) 306-1070
e-mail: wnoxon@nsf.gov
Statement by
DR. NEAL LANE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
President Clinton's Intent to Nominate Dr. Lane as Assistant to the President for Science & Technology and Director, Office of Science & Technology Policy
I welcome the opportunity to help lead the President's science and technology team. This is an exciting and demanding time for science and engineering. America's science agenda has moved rapidly beyond narrow Cold War concerns. Scientists and engineers are now challenged to address a broad range of critical social, economic, environment and health needs.
I am convinced that science is up to this immense challenge. The next century will be a veritable golden age of discovery. Promising breakthroughs and advances come to light almost daily. My highest priority will be to enable the U.S. to uphold a position of world leadership in all aspects of science and engineering in 21st century.
In the short term, I plan to work to enact the President's entire FY 1999 budget request for science and engineering. By providing one of the largest increases for civilian research and development, this investment would set the stage for a new century of progress through learning and discovery.
Our research and education enterprise is truly one of our nation's most valuable assets. It sets a standard of excellence admired around the globe. It helps ensure that Americans can enjoy the benefits that flow from advances at and across the frontiers of science and technology.
We all owe Jack Gibbons a tremendous debt of gratitude for his leadership at OSTP and for his many years of service on behalf of U.S. science and engineering. I am honored to succeed him.
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Statement by
DR. RICHARD N. ZARE CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD
On President Clinton's Intent to Nominate Neal Lane as Assistant to the President for Science & Technology and Director, Office of Science & Technology Policy
I congratulate President Clinton on an outstanding appointment. Science in this country is at a critical juncture. We're on the threshold of what Neal Lane and others call "a golden era of science." Lane will be the "scientist's science advisor," with the vision and leadership to carry this nation's science and engineering enterprise into that golden era of scientific discovery.
Lane also will be the "public's science advisor." He knows what it means to explain the benefits of scientific research and development to the public; he knows how to integrate research and education to enable a U.S. workforce capable of meeting 21st century science and technology challenges; and he has a track record of promoting partnerships -- especially between industry and institutions of higher learning.
Lane's accomplishments as director of the National Science Foundation for the past five years truly constitute an enviable record, particularly in the realm of advancing computing and communications. I have had the rare privilege of seeing up close his skills of persuasion and consensus building. He has worked ceaselessly to make visible the high road, and his summons for others to follow that road has been met by an upwelling of bipartisan support. This appointment is NSF's loss but the nation's gain.
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Dr. Zare will be available on February 13th at (650) 723-3062 or via e-mail: zare@stanford.edu.
