News Updates

3/15/17 – In the midst of debate leading up to the Federal Reserve’s latest decision to raise interest rates, the central bank’s chair observed that changing fiscal policies alone will not generate technological breakthroughs “that would boost real GDP growth over the longer run or address the root causes of income inequality.” A long-time economic analyst recently argued this case in Issues, calling for a national research and development investment capable of spurring productivity growth and creating high-paying, high-skill jobs.

3/13/17 – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seems marked for drastic funding reductions under the new Trump administration, to the chagrin of critics who say this would undercut important areas of science for little reward. Indeed, the government should strengthen the agency by reformulating it into a new department focused directly on ocean research, a policy analyst has argued in Issues, saying the move would help in expanding knowledge about this vital realm and addressing climate change and a range of other national concerns.

3/12/17 – Automation, driven by advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, is changing the face of jobs across the United States, as detailed in Issues by an economic analyst who added that the nation will have to find ways to adjust accordingly. Now experts from an array of fields have provided in the New York Times a menu of what policymakers might do to help workers succeed.

3/11/17 – The US Navy has bold ambitions for sea-based robots that can carry out a range of missions, a security analyst has explained in Issues, adding that a key will be developing practical systems quickly and gaining experience using them. A recent online report points to progress along several lines, including field evaluations of a swarm of drone vessels designed to detect enemy ships, perform surveillance missions, or even launch attacks.

3/7/17 – Controversy over the system by which the United States brings in highly skilled foreign guest workers is still roiling political waters. In the midst of the turmoil, a set of proposals for reforming the federal visa and immigration systems for scientists and engineers is already on hand in Issues, tailored to meet the nation’s scientific, educational, and economic needs and be fair to US workers and students.

3/6/17 – The new secretary of transportation, Elaine Chao, recently pledged to look at alternative financing mechanisms beyond federal funding to pay for infrastructure improvements, including highway construction. Should she take this route, a long-time transportation analyst has already provided in Issues some options that he says capitalize on technology to collect fees directly, efficiently, and more fairly from road users.