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Office of Science and Technology Policy Blog

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A Note on Genome Editing

The White House fully supports a robust review of the ethical issues associated with using gene-editing technology to alter the human germline. The Administration believes that altering the human germline for clinical purposes is a line that should not be crossed at this time.
May 26, 2015 at 10:40 AM ET by John P. Holdren

National Museum and Library Medal Winners Inspire “Makers” Across America

Earlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library Service to ten museums and libraries. Several of the winners of the 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library Service demonstrate how libraries and museums around the country are helping people meet the challenges and take advantage of opportunities of 21st-century working and living: a priority of this Administration.
May 22, 2015 at 12:37 PM ET by Nancy Weiss and Stephanie Santoso

What's Next for the Microbiome?

Researchers are using new knowledge about communities of microorganisms, or "microbiomes," to develop beneficial applications in areas as diverse as environmental remediation, food production and nutrition, and medical research. Given the demonstrated and potential value of microbiome research in such diverse applications, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is issuing a Request for Information to provide a broad community of stakeholders, including experts and members of the public an opportunity to comment on the current status and needs of microbiome research.
May 21, 2015 at 2:15 PM ET by Jo Handelsman and Elizabeth R. Stulberg

New Initiatives to Accelerate the Commercialization of Nanotechnology

Today, the National Economic Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy held a forum at the White House to discuss opportunities to accelerate the commercialization of nanotechnology. Over the last fifteen years, the Federal government has invested over $20 billion in nanotechnology R&D as part of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). In recognition of the importance of nanotechnology R&D, representatives from companies, government agencies, colleges and universities, and non-profits are announcing a series of new and expanded public and private initiatives that complement the Administration’s efforts to accelerate the commercialization of nanotechnology and expand the nanotechnology workforce.
May 20, 2015 at 5:42 PM ET by Thomas Kalil, Lloyd Whitman, JJ Raynor

You Had Me At Hello: Brainteaser Solution

Bringing you the solution to Deputy CTO Ed Felten's first brainteaser, and introducing a more challenging version!
May 20, 2015 at 5:01 PM ET by Ed Felten

Announcing New Steps to Promote Pollinator Health

Pollinators are critical to the Nation’s economy, food security, and environmental health. Learn more.
May 19, 2015 at 9:00 AM ET by John P. Holdren

Celebrating World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

In recognition of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on May 17, a look at the ways in which the U.S. has supported the growth and adoption of information and communication technologies from the colonial era to the Internet age.
May 18, 2015 at 6:25 PM ET by Nancy Weiss

Driving Innovation in STEM Education

The Department of Education's new $60 million First in the World grant competition is driving innovation in higher education. This includes active learning approaches, which have been shown to increase learning and improve student persistence in STEM subjects.
May 18, 2015 at 10:13 AM ET by Jo Handelsman and Meredith Drosback

Launching the Police Data Initiative

May 18, 2015 at 6:00 AM ET by Megan Smith and Roy L. Austin, Jr.

Hello, World

With a brainteaser, Deputy Chief Technology Officer Ed Felten illustrates the wide range of computer science applications.
May 17, 2015 at 4:52 PM ET by Ed Felten

Kids Serve, Too

As we honor our service members and veterans during Military Appreciation Month this May, it’s important to remember that kids serve, too. Joining Forces, led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, with support from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), is celebrating the work of organizations like the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), which is expanding support to military-connected students.
May 14, 2015 at 1:24 PM ET by Kumar Garg and Jamie Lyons

It Is Rocket Science! NASA Releases Abundance of Free Code

May 13, 2015 at 9:18 AM ET by Doug Rand

Engaging First-Year Students in STEM Research

Investing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is critical to the Nation and its future. One way to simultaneously train a robust STEM workforce and to tackle pressing science and technology issues is to provide undergraduate students with opportunities to perform authentic research early in their college careers.
May 12, 2015 at 4:19 PM ET by Meredith Drosback

Save the Date…the National Day of Civic Hacking is Coming June 6!

The third annual National Day of Civic Hacking is coming June 6, 2015, to a city near you! It’s a day when we’ll collaboratively build new solutions using publicly-released data, technology, and design processes to improve our communities and the governments that serve them.
May 12, 2015 at 12:02 PM ET by DJ Patil

Two Years of Transformative Open Data for Public Good

Two years ago, President Obama signed an Executive Order (E.O.) to improve how our government shares information for the benefit of the American people. Today, we're excited by how far open data has come in the U.S. and around the world.
May 11, 2015 at 4:28 PM ET by DJ Patil

The White House Names Dr. Ed Felten as Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Ed Felten is joining the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer
May 11, 2015 at 2:00 PM ET by Megan Smith, Alexander Macgillivray

Ensuring Students have Equal Access to STEM Courses

One priority of this Administration is to make sure we are doing everything we can broaden participation in STEM. That's why last month, Catherine E. Lhamon, the U.S. Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, released a guidance package that reminds school districts, colleges, and universities of their obligation to designate an employee to coordinate their compliance with Title IX, the Federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.
May 8, 2015 at 3:15 PM ET by Kumar Garg and James A. Ferg-Cadima

Public Sector Prizes and Challenges Show Increased Sophistication, Ambition and Use: A Fiscal Year 2014 Progress Report

Today, OSTP also released its fourth annual comprehensive report detailing the use of prize competitions and challenges by Federal agencies to spur innovation, engage citizen solvers, address tough problems, and advance their core missions. This report details the remarkable results from 97 prize competitions and challenges offered by 30 agencies under a variety of authorities in FY 2014.
May 8, 2015 at 11:56 AM ET by Jenn Gustetic

A New Era for United States Cooperation with CERN

Today, at a brief ceremony led by OSTP Associate Director for Science Jo Handelsman, the United States signed an agreement for renewed cooperation with this prominent institution.
May 7, 2015 at 5:19 PM ET by Jo Handelsman and Saul Gonzalez

Connecting America’s Communities with Actionable Climate Science

On the anniversary of the U.S. National Climate Assessment, the President's Science Advisor John Holdren meets with and highlights communities and regions that are using the tool to take action on climate where it matters most.
May 6, 2015 at 3:27 PM ET by Tamara Dickinson

Taking Daughters and Sons to Work on STEM

At the end of April, an estimated 3.5 million employers opened their doors to kids in their communities for “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.” This year, President Obama encouraged employers to expand their programs to youth who are typically unable to participate. The White House, OSTP, NASA, and other Federal agencies joined groups like Girl Scouts of the USA and the Microsoft Corporation in taking the President's message to heart, hosting activities at their workplaces designed to get youth interested in and excited about STEM careers.
May 6, 2015 at 10:32 AM ET by Jo Handelsman and Ellen Stofan

Building a Nation of Makers

Last year, on June 18, President Obama hosted the first-ever White House Maker Faire and challenged “every company, every college, every community, every citizen [to] join us as we lift up makers and builders and doers across the country.” On June 12-18, 2015, the White House will celebrate a Week of Making, including a National Maker Faire in Washington D.C.
May 4, 2015 at 3:34 PM ET by Tom Kalil and Roberto Rodriguez

NOAA’s Data Heads for the Clouds

If you ask the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) about big data, they will give you some big numbers. Over 20 terabytes per day of observational data are produced by their satellite systems alone, and then there’s the the massive weather and climate models from the bureau’s 1.5 petaflops of computing power, incoming observations from a network of hundreds of buoys, and live streaming video from the research vessel Okeanos Explorer.
May 4, 2015 at 11:53 AM ET by Maia Hansen and Alan Steremberg

Statement by OSTP Director John P. Holdren on House-Proposed Funding Cuts to NASA's Critical Earth Science and Space Technology Programs

May 1, 2015 at 9:47 AM ET by

Unleashing Tech and Innovation for Disaster Preparedness

A host of new technology and innovation commitments being shared today include efforts on new interactive mapping tools, free and open source hardware designs, improved smartphone alerts, and a series of disaster resilience technology exhibits at the upcoming National Maker Faire, during a dedicated Week of Making this June 12 - 18.
April 30, 2015 at 11:53 AM ET by Tamara Dickinson and David Applegate

Taking Action for America’s PrepareAthon!

For America’s PrepareAthon! National Day of Action, individuals, families, and communities across the country are coming together to take action to prepare for diverse threats including tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and winter storms.
April 30, 2015 at 10:24 AM ET by Amy Pope, Christy Goldfuss, and John Holdren

Improving the Lives of Older Americans Through Science and Technology

As the Obama Administration prepares to host the 2015 White House Conference on Aging, we have been engaging with older Americans, caregivers, families, researchers, leaders in the field of aging, and other stakeholders across the country to hear about their most important issues.
April 28, 2015 at 12:41 PM ET by John P. Holdren and Cecilia Muñoz

Growing the Network of Innovators in Government

Participants in a variety of Federal fellowship programs bring enthusiasm, new ideas, and fresh perspectives to Federal departments and agencies every day. Last week, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) convened a workshop to teach 100 current participants in Federal fellowship programs how to apply creative 21st-century tools to their fellowship projects, and to use these tools to inspire and ignite innovation in government.
April 22, 2015 at 3:08 PM ET by Jenn Gustetic and Celestine Warren

OSTP and USPTO Welcome Game-Changing Innovators for the 2015 Patents for Humanity Ceremony

On April 20, OSTP and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) hosted the 2015 Patents for Humanity award winners for a ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Patents for Humanity, which was launched at the White House in February 2012, is a USPTO program that recognizes innovators who use pioneering technology to confront humanitarian challenges.
April 21, 2015 at 11:06 AM ET by Jennifer Lee

21st-Century Public Servants: Using Prizes and Challenges to Spur Innovation

The Obama Administration has take important steps to make modern approaches, such as prizes and challenges, standard tools in every Federal agency's toolbox. Nearly 400 prizes and challenges have been posted on challenge.gov since September 2010, and thousands of Federal employees across the government are using these approaches to deliver services more effectively and efficiently, and to solve problems that relate to the missions of their Agencies.
April 17, 2015 at 1:33 PM ET by Jenn Gustetic