21 July 2009

Man on the moon: What are new frontiers?

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” were the culmination of an engineering marvel that allowed man to step foot on the moon 40 years ago Monday.

America’s race to the moon also launched a generation of scientists and engineers. Inspired by a sense of patriotism and the wonders of space, the moon walk enabled a country’s newfound commitment to science.

That new R&D enterprise, built to support America’s scientific ambitions and based largely on federally-funded research conducted at universities across the country, had an effect on society and the economy. It produced innovations in health, technology, energy, security, and defense. It also helped fuel the nation’s economic growth. And, it has educated and trained new generations of scientists, engineers, and doctors.

University researchers across the country through the Science Coalition reflected on the moonwalk and shared their thoughts about the next frontiers in science and what America must do to ensure they reach these scientific frontiers.

Some highlights from the scientists’ comments are below:

• “Perhaps more than anything, we need to address the scientific challenge of providing more effective, efficient and diverse sources of energy to drive the global economy, its citizens, and its infrastructure,” said William McDonough, professor of geology at the University of Maryland.
• “Instead of looking for a single innovation to transform transportation, the next great challenge will be a revolutionary and holistic reinvention of vehicles. The next ‘moon landing’ will be a new science-driven way of approaching automobiles … that goes beyond slashing mpg or substituting gas with electricity,” said Dennis Assanis, director of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute and the W.E. Lay Automotive Laboratory at the University of Michigan.
• “The 21st Century equivalent to putting a man on the moon will be our understanding of the human brain—and in particular, achieving the ability to stimulate the brain to repair itself, including restoring old memories and learning new information after damage and disease. … That understanding will revolutionize the way we treat devastating neurological injuries and disease,” said Elissa Newport, chair of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester. “We’re almost there—if we merely stop cutting science funding, these discoveries are around the corner.”

For related information, go to www.isa.org/productivity.