Congressman Rush Holts Sees Frayed Relations Between Science and U.S. Policy

The diminished influence of science on public policy is posing significant risks to the United States across a range of areas, from energy and the economy to education and the underlying spirit of the nation, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt told a AAAS audience Thursday.

Speaking at the 30th annual Forum on Science and Technology Policy, Holt urged scientists and engineers to seek more and better ways to engage with policy-makers and the public, with a goal of dispelling the view that federal funding for scientific and engineering research is "welfare for people in lab coats."

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