[Words heard round the world on October 4, 1957: "Beep. Beep."] Fifty years ago today, the Soviet launch of Sputnik changed the United States forever--propelling science to the center of policymaking and launching a tradition of well-informed governance that, unfortunately, has since been in a woeful decline. Luckily at least one presidential candidate wants to do something about it: Hillary Clinton, who will be giving a speech today on science policymaking at the Carnegie Institution. According to the AP she plans to unveil the following proposals:
_ Expand human and robotic space exploration and speed development of vehicles to would replace the space shuttle. _ Launch a space-based climate change initiative to combat global warming. _ Create a $50-billion strategic energy fund to research ways to boost energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. _ Comply with a legal requirement that the executive branch issue a national assessment on ...
