John Keller, University of Iowa interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Dean of the Graduate College, recently joined a panel of experts to discuss “Investing in the Nation’s Future – A Renewed Commitment to Federal Science Funding.”

The event was held May 8 at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. and was a response to recent Congressional action to increase federal funding for research and development. In spite of the increase, the United States lags the research and technological strides being made in other countries.

“The United States needs to maintain robust and sustained federal funding for scientific research,” the event’s organizers said. “Global competitors are doubling down on science as key to creating new innovations and solving the challenges of the future. Continually developing new scientific knowledge and technologies drives long-term economic growth and creates higher-skilled jobs.”

Keller and other panelists explored how the country can expand and sustain its economic and competitive edge in research and discovery. The keynote speaker for the event was Eric K. Fanning, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association. Other panelists included Mark S. Berry, Vice President of Environmental & Natural Resources with Georgia Power; Michael L. Telson, Vice President for Energy programs with General Atomics; Maria Zuber, Vice President for Research and E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Maria Zuber, Chair of the National Science Board.

“Delivery of basic research to a product in the biomedical space can take 20-25 years,” Keller said. “Basic research that is supported by the government in the NIH and biomedical world is absolutely critical.”

Audio of the conversation is available at https://bipartisanpolicy.org/events/investing-in-the-nations-future-a-renewed-commitment-to-federal-science-funding/ 

According to its website, the Bipartisan Policy Center is a non-profit organization that combines ideas from both parties to promote health, security, and opportunity for all Americans. BPC drives principled and politically viable policy solutions through the power of rigorous analysis, painstaking negotiation, and aggressive advocacy. More at https://bipartisanpolicy.org/.