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Office of Science and Technology Policy Blog

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Finding Federal Scientific Collections Just Got Easier

​Federal agencies have taken steps to improve the management and accessibility of scientific collections
December 9, 2016 at 2:19 PM ET by Jerry Sheehan, David Schindel, Scott Miller, and Ann Bartuska

The Nation’s First Ocean Plans

Today, the National Ocean Council is releasing the Nation’s first ocean plans—a historic collaboration among states, tribes, Federal agencies, and ocean stakeholders.
December 7, 2016 at 9:02 AM ET by Christy Goldfuss, John P. Holdren

A Year of Action Supporting Computer Science for All

Learn how 2016 has been a year of action in support of the President's Computer Science for All initiative and computer science education across the nation.
December 5, 2016 at 12:22 PM ET by Ruthe Farmer, Kumar Garg

The Obama Administration Announces New Steps to Maintain and Create Healthy Soils

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is releasing a framework for Federal soil science, and announcing new actions to protect soil health.
December 5, 2016 at 6:02 AM ET by Parker Liautaud , Jo Handelsman

Transitioning to Non-radioactive Technologies in Medical Applications

Interagency working group releases recommendations to Federal agencies on alternatives to high-activity radioactive sources in medical applications.
December 2, 2016 at 2:31 PM ET by Matthew Heavner

President Obama Welcomes America’s 2016 Nobel Laureates to the White House

This week, President Obama met with four of America’s leading scientists to recognize their achievements and highlight the importance of supporting science.
December 2, 2016 at 11:39 AM ET by Kristin Lee, Fae Jencks

PCAST’s Upcoming Report on S&T for Safe Drinking Water and the EPA’s Drinking Water Action Plan

Today, PCAST is releasing the recommendations and executive summary of its report on S&T for safe drinking water, in conjunction with EPA's Drinking Water Action Plan.
November 30, 2016 at 1:01 PM ET by Rosina Bierbaum, PhD and Christine Cassel, MD

Demystifying Access to Capital for All Early Stage Science and Tech Entrepreneurs

More than 30 investors pledged to increase access to capital for science and tech entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, including by sharing tips for raising funds.
November 30, 2016 at 9:22 AM ET by Laura Weidman Powers

President Obama’s Top Ten Actions to Accelerate American Entrepreneurship

In celebration of National Entrepreneurship Month, check out President Obama’s most significant actions to promote American entrepreneurship.
November 30, 2016 at 9:15 AM ET by Thomas Kalil, Doug Rand

Raising the Floor: Sharing What Works in Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We've compiled some of what we’ve heard and seen work in creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable science and technology workforce.
November 28, 2016 at 9:38 AM ET by Megan Smith and Laura Weidman Powers

Celebrating Presidential Medal of Freedom Winners in Science and Tech: Garwin, Hopper, and Hamilton

President Obama bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor, on Grace Hopper, Margaret Hamilton, and Richard Garwin today.
November 22, 2016 at 7:04 PM ET by Kristin Lee

Lab-to-Market: Commercializing New Technologies by Exchanging Talent

As part of the Lab-to-Market initiative, a new rule promotes the exchange of talented personnel among Federal laboratories, academia, and industry.
November 22, 2016 at 6:33 PM ET by Marc Wynne

Presidential Innovation Fellows Applications Open: come serve in the PIF Spring 2017 Cohort

Applications are open for the Spring '17 Cohort of the Presidential Innovation Fellows. Join us.
November 18, 2016 at 4:41 PM ET by Megan Smith, Nathan Olson

White House Electric Vehicle Datathon: Unlocking New Opportunities through Data

The White House is hosting its first-ever Electric Vehicle Datathon, and nominations for participation are now open. Don't miss your chance to join the discussion!
November 18, 2016 at 2:00 PM ET by Candace Vahlsing, and Austin Brown

PCAST Letter to the President on Action Needed to Protect Against Biological Attack

The threat of a biological attack represents a unique challenge to national defense that could be exacerbated by rapid developments in biological science and technology.
November 15, 2016 at 3:00 PM ET by Christopher Chyba, PhD, Wanda Austin, PhD

A New Prize Challenge for Virtual and Augmented Reality Learning Tools

The Administration has launched a new competition for virtual and augmented reality developers to create learning tools to support career and technical education.
November 15, 2016 at 2:13 PM ET by Erik Martin and Albert Palacios

Science for a Healthy Ocean

Seeking Public Input on National Ocean Research in the Next Decade.
November 4, 2016 at 10:47 AM ET by Dr. Tamara Dickinson

Celebrating Nanotechnology with a Day, a Dash, some Nuggets, and a Plan

The release of an updated National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan caps a month of activities highlighting nanotechnology.
November 1, 2016 at 3:56 PM ET by Lloyd Whitman, Lisa Friedersdorf

President’s Council Launches Semiconductor Working Group

A Working Group under the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology has begun work to sustain U.S. leadership in the global semiconductor industry.
October 31, 2016 at 3:00 PM ET by John P. Holdren, Paul Otellini

The Resilience Dialogues: Connecting Communities with Scientists and Practitioners

A new beta online consultative service will help communities find, use, and understand information, tools, and programs to support their climate-resilience needs.
October 31, 2016 at 10:00 AM ET by Amy Luers and Mike Kuperberg

Federally Funded Research Results Are Becoming More Open and Accessible

Significant strides in improving public access to scholarly publications and digital data help usher in an era of open science.
October 28, 2016 at 9:28 AM ET by Jerry Sheehan

A Call for New #CSforAll Actions during Computer Science Education Week

CSEdWeek is an opportunity to join the #CSforAll movement and give every student the opportunity to learn computer science.
October 27, 2016 at 11:10 AM ET by Ruthe Farmer

Active Learning Day in America

Active Learning Day announcements advance the STEM for All initiative.
October 25, 2016 at 2:29 PM ET by Jo Handelsman and Quincy Brown

Harnessing the Small Satellite Revolution

Announcing a new initiative that builds on the President’s speech at last week’s Frontiers Conference in Pittsburgh, fostering innovation in small satellites.
October 21, 2016 at 6:00 AM ET by Steve Fetter and Tom Kalil

White House Hosts the First-Ever Meeting of Kid Science Advisors

Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. John Holdren is meeting with 11 students who will share their ideas for science and STEM education.
October 20, 2016 at 6:39 PM ET by Andrew Coy and Erik Martin

Identifying Strategic Options for Advancing Quantum Information

Forum on Quantum Information Science addresses challenges to the field, and identifies strategic options and innovative approaches to move QIS forward.
October 18, 2016 at 4:23 PM ET by Altaf H. (Tof) Carim and William T. (Tim) Polk

Preparing the Nation for Space Weather: New Executive Order

The Administration takes significant step towards preparing critical infrastructure and technology for the risk of space weather.
October 13, 2016 at 10:00 AM ET by Dr. Tamara Dickinson

Growing Number of Communities are Using Data to Improve Policing and Criminal Justice

The Police Data Initiative and the Data-Driven Justice Initiative each now support more than 100 participating jurisdictions.
October 13, 2016 at 6:02 AM ET by Ron L. Davis, Roy L. Austin, Jr., and DJ Patil

The Administration’s Report on the Future of Artificial Intelligence

A new report from the Administration focuses on the opportunities, considerations, and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
October 12, 2016 at 6:02 AM ET by Ed Felten and Terah Lyons

Making Human Settlement of Space a Reality

Announcing two new NASA initiatives that build on the President's vision to enable humans to sustainably live and work in space.
October 11, 2016 at 9:00 AM ET by John P. Holdren, Charles Bolden