Norman Augustine, report raise alarm on U.S. science
leadership and American competitiveness
On Wednesday, May 31, at 8 p.m., Norman Augustine, former CEO of Lockheed Martin and chair of the National Academies committee that wrote the report “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future,” will give a public lecture at the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Mr. Augustine will be available for questions by media representatives after his presentation.
Reporters interested in covering the event should register and reserve a free ticket for the lecture by calling Kathy Johnson at 630-840-2787 before 4 p.m. on May 31.
Last year, in response to questions from members of Congress, the National Academies charged a team of distinguished scientists, CEOs, Nobel Prize winners and university presidents to assess the future of America’s leadership in science and technology.
Chaired by Norman Augustine, the team co-authored a 505-page report on the U.S.’s eroding scientific leadership and the consequences for this country’s economic future. Pointing out the lack of science education and the outsourcing of science and engineering jobs, the report concludes that an economic crisis in this country threatens, as nations like China and India make advances in science and technology.
The report received broad attention, and President Bush announced the American Competitiveness Initiative in his 2006 State of the Union address. Mr. Augustine will discuss how the report and the initiative outline a plan for the United States to stay on the leading edge in science and technology.
The full text of “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” is online at http://www.nap.edu/books/0309100399/html
Biographical information on Mr. Augustine is available at: http://www.fnal.gov/orgs/fermilab_users_org/users_mtg/2006/augustine.pdf
Mr. Augustine’s presentation, sponsored by the Fermilab Users Organization, is part of the annual Fermilab Users Meeting, May 31-June 1. A list of all keynote speakers is at http://www.fnal.gov/orgs/fermilab_users_org/users_mtg/2006/speakers_2006.html
Fermilab is a national laboratory funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy, operated by Universities Research Association, Inc.