Obama promises major investment in science

Obama promises major investment in scientific research and development

* Randolph E. Schmid, AP Science Writer
* On Monday April 27, 2009, 1:13 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama promised a new era of science and technology for the nation, telling the National Academy of Sciences on Monday that he wants to devote more funds to research and development.

America has fallen behind other countries in science, Obama said.

"I believe it is not in our character, American character, to follow -- but to lead. And it is time for us to lead once again. I am here today to set this goal: we will devote more than 3 percent of our gross domestic product to research and development," Obama said in a speech at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences.

That 3 percent would amount to about $420 billion.

"We will not just meet but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the space race," he said.

That pursuit of discovery a half century ago fueled the nation's prosperity and success, Obama told the academy.

"The commitment I am making today will fuel our success for another 50 years," he said. "This work begins with an historic commitment to basic science and applied research."

And he set forth a wish list including solar cells as cheap as paint; green buildings that produce all the energy they consume; learning software as effective as a personal tutor; prosthetics so advanced that you could play the piano again and "an expansion of the frontiers of human knowledge about ourselves and world the around us.'

"We can do this," Obama said to applause.

In recent years, he said, "scientific integrity has been undermined and scientific research politicized in an effort to advance predetermined ideological agendas."

He then drew chuckles, commenting: "I want to be sure that facts are driving scientific decisions, not the other way around," Obama said.

"At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science, that support for research is somehow a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree," Obama said.

"Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been," he said.

Obama said he plans to double the budget of key science agencies over a decade, including the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology.

He also announced the launch of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. It is a new Department of Energy organization modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, that led in development of the Internet, stealth aircraft and other technological breakthroughs.

And he said the Energy Department and the National Science Foundation will offer programs and scholarships to encourage American students to pursue careers in science, engineering and business related to clean energy.

My Gardening Attempts in South Florida (Help Needed)

Things are pretty different down here in extreme south Florida from the rest of the US, even gardening. I used to be able to throw some squash seeds in some red clay and harvest all summer long with only some powdery mildew to worry about. Similar story with tomatoes. Since I move almost as far south as you can go in the States about 1.5 years ago, however, gardening has been much more of a challenge. I have lost all 6 "crops" of zucchini I have tried- they don't even make it past about 6 inches tall. All tomato crops have similarly failed. Finally this try (planting everything in November and December) I have managed some apparent, although likely fleeting, success.

Above (from top left, clockwise): cherry tomato plants in containers in the front yard, 2 cucumber in a raised bed in the back yard with little sun, 2 cucumbers and random basil in a raised bed in the front yard (was sposta be a square foot garden, but the zucchini in the back row already died), and some chives that I have managed to keep alive in the same pot for 8 years now.


Above: Damage to my tomato plants after most damaged leaves were pulled off. We are in a drought and plants only get watered 1-2 times per week (good soaking). I saw a couple mites on the bottom of the leaves and proceeded to pull off all damaged leaves. Next I sprayed everything with neem oil, using rubber gloves to get the undersides of the leaves really well. These pictures are from a couple days later. The damage seems to be continuing. Does anyone have any ideas???????