Since the creation of the National Science foundation in 1950, the federal government has acknowledged and supported the centrality of science and technology to the global competitiveness of the United States. In this important work, historians Alan I Marcus and Amy Sue Bix present illuminating case studies that highlight crucial policy patterns, shifts in emphasis, and debates over future directions of US science and technology policy.
One major theme that emerges from these studies is that universities quickly became the main vehicles through which national science and technology policy was developed. As universities became involved in implementing federal policy, their role as educational institutions inevitably changed.
Other themes include the effect of gender and minority concerns on policy, as well as the application of social science to selecting research agendas and technology initiatives.
Marcus and Bix's revealing analysis corrects the misperception that federal science and technology policy is solely concerned with defense. They demonstrate that biotechnology, robotics, nanotechnology, and information science have also become potent policy choices in recent years, impacting such diverse areas of society as medicine, agriculture, energy use, economic trends, and homeland security.
Containing a wealth of information and insightful analysis, this comprehensive chronological study will be especially useful for undergraduate readers, while offering much to graduate students and established scholars.
- ISBN10 159102885X
- ISBN13 9781591028857
- Publish Date 4 December 2009 (first published 1 May 2007)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Humanities Press Intl
- Format eBook
- Pages 310
- Language English