May 18, 2005, Washington, DC--Members of the Optical Society of America and SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering traveled to Washington, D.C. May 10-11 to express to Congress the need for increased and balanced federal investment in research and development, reiterating that federally funded research is critical to securing the nation's future.
Peter Delfyett (FL), Alex Fong (FL), Jason Eichenholz (FL), Robert Breault (AZ), Jim McNally (NM), James Harrington (NJ), Wayne Knox (NY), Carolyn Russell (NY), Silvia Mioc (CO), Marylyn Bennett (TX), Richard Hoover (AL), Randy Heyler (CA), Elizabeth Kunkee (CA), Keri Then (CA), John Burris (MD), Colin McCormick (MD), Forrest Hall (MD), Jim Collatz (MD), William Heaps (VA), and Haris Riris (VA), joined with more than 200 scientists, engineers and business leaders who made visits on Capitol Hill as part of the 10th annual "Congressional Visits Days," an event sponsored by the Science-Engineering-Technology Work Group.
Despite a surprise evacuation of Capitol Hill, members of OSA and SPIE discussed the importance of the nation's broad portfolio of investments in science, engineering and technology to homeland security, defense, education and innovation with many Congressional offices. They were able to provide a constituent perspective on the local and national impact of these programs and their significance to optics and photonics. The group also spoke in support of legislation introduced in Congress to help support students going into math and science fields as well as the growing ways that the fields of optics and photonics can further the objectives of the United States' government.
"Politicians have repeatedly told us that the lack of influence of scientists and engineers on the policy-making process is due to our miserably low presence on Capitol Hill and in their district offices," said Eugene Arthurs, SPIE Executive Director. "Today, more and more important issues, for example, the future of our economy, our environment, and global sustainability, are dependent on the capability and limitations of science and technology. I have no doubt that our lack of thoughtful, organized, and sustained education of policy makers has led to some of the political decisions we abjure. We have much to do to win recognition of the importance of science and engineering to the future prosperity and security of our children."
More than 50% of all industrial innovation and growth in the United States since World War II can be attributed to advances pioneered through scientific research, with publicly funded R&D the vital foundation for today's scientific and technological progress. Examples of scientific and technological advances that can be traced back to federally funded science, engineering and technology include global environmental monitoring, lasers, liquid crystal displays, and the Internet. Science, engineering and technology are vital for the safety and security of our citizens and crucial for ensuring our economic well-being.
"Innovation is a phenomenally important part of the US economy, and federal R&D funding of the programs that support this innovation is the only way for these advancements to occur," said Elizabeth Rogan, OSA Executive Director. "OSA's and SPIE's efforts during Congressional Visits Days drove home that message and provided many members of Congress with insights into the importance of optics and photonics as part of that innovation and the new technologies enabled because of it."