Preparing for the Next Flood
Can policymaking keep pace with the social, technological, and environmental upheavals we are currently experiencing? That question is central to several of the Feature essays in the Spring 2018 Issues in Science and Technology. The authors offer compelling policy proposals that can help society better manage these momentous changes.
From the Hill
From the Hill – Spring 2018
A funny thing happened on the way to the White House 2019 fiscal year budget, which the Trump administration released on February 12, 2018: Congress adopted a sweeping deal to substantially increase… Read More
Perspectives
FDA Overreach on Genetically Engineered Animals
The oft-quoted quip “To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail” anticipated the practice of federal agencies expanding their mandate by shoehorning policy initiatives into regulatory regimes for which… Read MoreWhat is “Fair”? Algorithms in Criminal Justice
On rare occasions, new technologies open up straightforward routes to a better world. But on many other occasions, the mirage of a simple path forward fades quickly. In the case of social… Read More
Features
Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program
Since 1968, the federal government has provided flood insurance to homeowners residing in flood-prone areas through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Emergency Management… Read MoreHelping Communities Use Data to Make Better Decisions
Across the United States, cities and local communities are responsible for addressing the everyday societal needs of their residents. Their list of responsibilities includes protecting public safety, providing critical health services, and… Read MoreSlouching Toward the Downton Abbey University System
The US research university system, which continues to be the global gold standard, is a unique blend of public and private not-for-profit universities. Research universities are a core part of the overall… Read MoreReconceptualizing Infrastructure in the Anthropocene
A fundamental shift is afoot in the relationship between human and natural systems. It requires a new understanding of what we mean by infrastructure, and thus dramatic changes in the ways we… Read MoreWhat We Mean When We Talk about Workforce Skills
Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta stated recently that the United States “has more than six million open jobs, but some employers can’t find workers with the skills to fill them.” Before the 2008… Read MoreEconomic Policy in the Time of Reactionary Populism
Addressing the nation’s political unrest will require a rejection of some cherished economic dogmas. Political developments in the past year—notably the 2016 electoral campaign in the United States, and Brexit in England—have… Read MoreWe Need New Rules for Self-Driving Cars
Read MoreAutonomous vehicles will change the world in ways both anticipated and entirely unexpected. New rules should be flexible while ensuring that self-driving cars are safe, broadly accessible, and avoid the worst unintended consequences.
Book Reviews
A Task for Democracy
Over the past decade, a tool has emerged that enables very precise editing of the human genome, bringing with it tremendous value for research. Yet this gene-editing tool, called CRISPR, also generates… Read More
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
How worried should you really be about whether eating red meat or drinking coffee will cause cancer? Will using your cell phone too much result in brain tumors? Can the use of… Read More