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Office of Science and Technology Policy Blog

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Jump-Starting K-5 Computer-Science Education

OSTP’s Tom Kalil spoke with John Pearce of MV GATE, a California non-profit that is bringing CS education to schools in an innovative way.
March 25, 2016 at 2:41 PM ET by Thomas Kalil

Water Sustainability through Nanotechnology: Nanoscale Solutions for a Global-Scale Challenge

A new Nanotechnology Signature Initiative will accelerate R&D that applies the unique properties of engineered nanomaterials to address our Nation’s water challenges.
March 23, 2016 at 10:00 AM ET by Lloyd Whitman, Lisa Friedersdorf

Working Together to Build a Sustainable Water Future

Today, as part of World Water Day, the White House is hosting a Water Summit to catalyze ideas and actions to build a sustainable water future in the United States.
March 22, 2016 at 6:00 AM ET by Hannah Safford

New Investments to Help Unlock the Mysteries of the Brain

The President’s 2017 Budget proposes increasing funding for the BRAIN Initiative to more than $434 million. We invite organizations to help advance the Initiative.
March 21, 2016 at 9:00 AM ET by Tom Kalil, Noemie Levy, and Robbie Barbero

A Year of Progress: The One-Year Anniversary of the TechHire Initiative

One year later, TechHire grows to 50 communities – communities that have placed thousands of individuals in high-paying tech jobs.
March 18, 2016 at 5:01 PM ET by Megan Smith, Ryan Burke

Startup in a Day and more: Modernizing Entrepreneurs’ Experience of Government through Innovation

The President and this Administration are committed to modernizing the experience of government for the American people by leveraging advances in tech and innovation.
March 18, 2016 at 3:09 PM ET by Megan Smith, Maria Contreras-Sweet

What Makes a Mineral “Critical”?

A systematic approach to screening minerals for potential criticality was developed by Federal agencies, as described in a National Science and Technology Council report.
March 18, 2016 at 10:46 AM ET by Altaf H. (Tof) Carim

My Data: Empowering All Americans with Personal Data Access

Consumers empowered with their own data are in the driver’s seat to make informed choices.
March 15, 2016 at 1:47 PM ET by Kristen Honey, Phaedra Chrousos, and Tom Black

Supporting Active and Connected Lives as More Americans Live Longer

President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report identifies technologies and policies that can add to older Americans’ independence.
March 15, 2016 at 10:38 AM ET by Christine Cassel and Ed Penhoet

Tackling Harmful Algal Blooms

Earlier this year, an interagency working group released a research plan and action strategy for combating harmful algal blooms.
March 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM ET by W. Russell Callender, Joel Beauvais, and Beth Kerttula

Advancing Implementation of the National Strategy for the Arctic Region

Today, the White House released two reports focused on the Arctic Region: the 2015 Implementation Progress Report and 2016 Implementation Framework
March 9, 2016 at 1:56 PM ET by John P. Holdren, Amy Pope, and Mark Brzezinski

Announcing June 17-23 as a Week of Making

Building on President Obama’s Nation of Makers initiative, the 2016 National Week of Making will be June 17-23 and the National Maker Faire will be June 18-19.
March 9, 2016 at 11:27 AM ET by Tom Kalil and Andrew Coy

Clarifying Current Roles and Responsibilities for Biotechnology Products

In a public meeting on March 9, representatives from the Federal government will discuss efforts to modernize the biotech regulatory system.
March 7, 2016 at 5:26 PM ET by Robbie Barbero and James Kim

Precision Medicine for a Healthier Future

Initiative aims to accelerate a new era of medicine that delivers the right treatment at the right time to the right person.
February 26, 2016 at 11:07 AM ET by Dr. Jo Handelsman

Celebrating National Engineers Week

In recognition of National Engineers Week (#EWeek2016), engineers on the OSTP staff share their insights.
February 24, 2016 at 3:46 PM ET by Meredith Drosback

Accelerating Materials Development for a Clean-Energy Future

A new initiative, the Energy Materials Network, will accelerate innovation around the clean-energy manufacturing industry's most pressing materials challenges.
February 24, 2016 at 2:30 PM ET by Lloyd Whitman, Megan Brewster, and Reuben Sarkar

Now Available: A Library of Opportunity

Open eBooks is now available to millions of students offering unprecedented access to thousands of digital books.
February 24, 2016 at 7:00 AM ET by R. David Edelman

PCAST Releases Technology and the Future of Cities Report to the President

President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report recommends ways to make the most of technology and innovation opportunities for cities.
February 23, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET by Mark Gorenberg, Craig Mundie, Eric Schmidt, and Marjory Blumenthal

Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Science

Three years after the OSTP directive, policies to make data and publications resulting from federally funded research publicly accessible are becoming the norm.
February 22, 2016 at 12:05 PM ET by Jerry Sheehan

Accelerating Clean Energy Technology Solutions through the President’s Budget

The Department of Energy's Office of Technology Transitions is also helping move ideas from the National Labs into the marketplace.
February 12, 2016 at 5:05 PM ET by Doug Rand and Jetta Wong

Releasing New Guidance Under the National Ocean Policy

Announcing the release of the National Ocean Council's 2016 Annual Work Plan and Guidance on Marine Plans.
February 12, 2016 at 10:43 AM ET by Beth Kerttula

Statement on the Detection of Gravitational Waves

OSTP Director John Holdren congratulates the team behind the groundbreaking detection of gravitational waves.
February 12, 2016 at 10:32 AM ET by John P. Holdren

STEM for All

The Administration is working to expand STEM education and employment opportunities to all students.
February 11, 2016 at 10:59 AM ET by Jo Handelsman and Megan Smith

A Comment on H.R. 3293

OSTP Director John Holdren shares his thoughts on H.R. 3293.
February 10, 2016 at 12:03 PM ET by John P. Holdren

Announcing the “Fellows in Innovation:” A Coalition Contributing Fresh Ideas on National Priorities

In the coming months, OSTP will help organize a series of events giving fellows working in Federal government new, exciting opportunities.
February 9, 2016 at 4:02 PM ET by Dan Correa, Jenn Gustetic, and Kristen Honey

National Challenges and Goals for Cybersecurity Science and Technology

The 2016 Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan creates the science and technology to ensure America’s prosperity, national security in cyberspace.
February 9, 2016 at 5:00 AM ET by Greg Shannon and Tim Polk

A Call to Action: Supporting the Next Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs

OSTP is working to guarantee all young people access to fulfilling educational opportunities, particularly in the STEM disciplines.
February 7, 2016 at 6:19 PM ET by Marvin Carr and Kamau Bobb

Open Data: Empowering Americans to Make Data-Driven Decisions

OSTP looks back on progress made in open-data initiatives over the past year, and goals for the coming year.
February 5, 2016 at 2:03 PM ET by Kristen Honey

Advancing Earthquake Resilience

Public and private sectors taking steps to improve earthquake warning and safety.
February 2, 2016 at 11:08 AM ET by Tamara Dickinson and Alice Hill

Identifying Commercialization-Success Stories from the National Nanotechnology Initiative

The White House is seeking examples of commercialization-success stories stemming from U.S. Government-funded nanotechnology research and development.
February 2, 2016 at 6:00 AM ET by Lloyd Whitman, Michael Meador