The next President’s science policy

Opinion: Nature :In less than two-and-a-half years, the next president of the United States will take the oath of office and deliver his or her inaugural address. In early 2009, the president and a small group of sleep-deprived aides will submit a multi-trillion-dollar budget, nominate or appoint senior advisers and members of the cabinet, and establish the administration’s initial policy priorities. As a result of my eight years as a science and technology policy adviser to President Clinton, I am convinced that the scientific and technical community should begin to plan now for this transition.