Issues in Science and Technology

Cultivating Mastery in Place Diné entrepreneurs entwine economic renewal with mutual obligation, providing a model of regional economic development that serves the community.

Building an advanced manufacturing hub in Navajo Nation requires a radically different kind of regional economic development model, @maryannfeldman.bsky.social & Alaina Kayaani-George‬ write—one that centers around prioritizing community well-being.
issues.org/indigenous-e...

A Century of Conflict Over Evolution Education A new book examines the legacy of Tennessee v. Scopes, offering a warning about future litigation over the teaching of evolution in America.

In his review of a new book examining the 100-year legacy of the Scopes “monkey” trial on teaching evolution in public schools, @glennbranch.bsky.social writes that the authors provide an “insightful and detailed legal history,” but finds their argument overly pessimistic:

Being a Good Mentor Mentorship is a powerful tool in accelerating the development and careers of all scientists.

‪ “One way to stay grounded is to remember that we still have to meet our vocational obligations—to teach.” 

In our forum section, @oiyanpoon.bsky.social responds to David Asai’s essay reflecting on the current state of DEI in science education: issues.org/inclusive-sc...

What We Don’t Know About Public Perceptions of Science What does the public think about the Trump administration’s changes to federal research budgets and policies?

In April, @sciencecenters.bsky.social surveyed 1,017 US adults in an initial effort to better understand public attitudes toward the scientific ecosystem—and found “no significant ‘anti-science’ coalition.”

Science Diplomacy and the Rise of Technopoles During the era of globalization, science diplomacy was a key tool for addressing global challenges. Today, among fracturing alliances, the field must evolve.

During the era of increasing globalization, science diplomacy was a key tool for addressing global challenges. Today, among fracturing alliances, the field must evolve. @nationalacademies.org’s Vaughan Turekian & @sciencecouncil.bsky.social’s Peter Gluckman write:

The Real Returns on NIH’s Intramural Research The NIH intramural research program generates benefits far beyond the property lines of its facilities and laboratories.

The impacts of NIH’s external grant programs are well documented—but the research conducted at the agency generates outsized social and economic outcomes, too. @techiewonk.bsky.social & Rossana Zetina-Beale led retrospective analyses that found “enormous economic benefit”: issues.org/nih-intramur...

How ADHD Affects Adults ADHD is the second most prevalent psychiatric disorder in adults, but many misconceptions exist about the disorder.

🤔How does ADHD affect adults?

🎙️Sara Frueh, an editor at @issuesinst.bsky.social , sat down with @hopkinsmedicine.bsky.social ’s professor, David Goodman to talk about the complexities in how it’s diagnosed and treated.

issues.org/how-adhd-aff...

What Can Science Philanthropy Do? With federal funding of science in disarray, philanthropy may become an even more important supporter of scientific research.

“It is not possible for philanthropy to fill the funding gap created by the retreat of the federal government,” Richard Meserve writes. Read perspectives from Meserve, France Córdova, @k8lowry.bsky.social, Keith Yamamoto, and @danafoundation.bsky.social’s Caroline Montojo: issues.org/science-phil...

What Happens When the Nuts and Bolts of Science Diplomacy Come Loose? US science diplomacy has focused too much on preventing transfer of sensitive technology instead of on international collaboration.

In his essay describing the state of US science diplomacy, @colesci.bsky.social outlines the political and procedural hurdles that “create an atmosphere where ambitious ideas are frequently downgraded to more achievable, lower-effort projects.” issues.org/science-dipl...

“Call it the Vannevar Index: The greater the pressure on the scientific enterprise, the more one hears about Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s science advisor.”

Read @lisamargonelli.bsky.social’s Editor’s Journal for the Summer ISSUES: issues.org/innovation-h...

While ultraprocessed food companies pursue profits at the cost of making populations obese, pharmaceutical companies pursue profits with drugs promising to make the same people thin. Why not make money off both sides of the world's obesity crisis?

A take worth reading on #scipol reform debate by
@issuesinst.bsky.social's @lisamargonelli.bsky.social.

Esp by science advocates.

Back to Vannevar Bush or to what's next in the Endless Frontier?

issues.org/innovation-h...

Fixing a Dysfunctional Food System The American food environment encourages people to consume ultra-processed food products rather than real food.

“When people do not eat healthfully, several industries profit—food, drug, and diet, for starters. Eating healthfully means taking on all of them.” @marionnestle.bsky.social responds to @drlauraschmidt.bsky.social & Luc Hagenaars’s essay on #GLP-1 drugs: issues.org/dysfunctiona...

Where Are the Moonshots? Gordon LaForge reviews “The Technological Republic” by Alexander C. Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska.

In his @issuesinst.bsky.social review of The Technology Republic, a book by #Palantir's Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska, @newamerica.org senior policy analyst Gordon LaForge urges for greater public capacity for #AI to deliver the benefits we hope it will.

Illustration by Shonagh Rae.

How should scientists navigate research that lies somewhere on a slippery slope between “unquestionably morally acceptable” and a “dystopian scenario that must be avoided”?

A group of biologists and ethicists discuss a controversial call for a ban on “mirror life”: issues.org/mirror-life-...

Preparing for the Bioconvergence Mirror life: Decision points on slipper slopes; disasters' complex risks; innovation in Navajo Nation; better data for better soil; science diplomacy falls apart; NIH intramural research Interview with Senator Todd Young

The Summer ISSUES has shipped! It explores the hidden scaffolding of US innovation—for ethical slippery slopes, the bioeconomy, the chemical industry, science diplomacy, in Navajo Nation, and more—and is, as usual, filled with art, book reviews, & poetry. Browse and subscribe: issues.org/issue/41-4/

It’s Time for Universities to Redesign Their 75-Year-Old Contract American research universities have unleashed an age of massive technical innovation—but they’ve failed to innovate their own designs to meet the changing needs of society.

“Ironically, although universities unleashed an age of massive technical innovation,” ASU’s Michael Crow, William Dabars, and David Rosowsky argue, “they failed to innovate their own designs to meet the changing needs of society.”

Read their piece in the Summer ISSUES: issues.org/universities...

If Your Snark Be a Boojum Does the American public distrust science—or have citizens lost trust in a political system that attempts to use science to resolve problems?

“Trust in science has lately emerged as the Snark of American politics.”

#STS scholar Sheila Jasanoff employs two Lewis Carroll characters—the Snark and the Boojum—in explaining the “strangely undefined” quest to understand public trust in science. issues.org/snark-boojum...

Portrait of Senator Todd Young by Shonagh Rae

“Our commission envisions a future in which Americans engage with biotechnology the same way they do with cell phones and computers.”

We spoke with Indiana senator Todd Young, chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, for the Summer ISSUES: issues.org/interview-se...

Wild animals are just as uniquely individual as our pets, with their own quirks, likes, and dislikes.

Author Brandon Keim discusses animal personhood, animal representation, and the story of a cormorant named Cosmos in a new @IssuesInST.bsky.social interview: buff.ly/lZIC9gi

Guys I got a preview of the cover of @issuesinst.bsky.social and let me tell you, I could not be more thrilled.

A) Corn!
B) Space!
C) Implied need for space traffic coordination!
D) Science Diplomacy needs fixing/needs to be less myopic (by yours truly)!!!!

Hope you’ll read it when it comes out.

What Does a Cormorant Feel? Brandon Keim discusses animal personhood, movements around animal representation, and cormorants—one named Cosmos in particular.

Our latest podcast features the story of Cosmos, a deformed cormorant who’d groom his rescuer’s sideburns (it was the ’80s) and turn the pages of his science journals.

@brandonkeim.bsky.social & @lisamargonelli.bsky.social talk animal personhood, policy, and cormorants: issues.org/brandon-keim...

In response to Helgadóttir’s story, human geographer Anna Pigott wrote about climate politics and apocalyptic narratives—and how important it is to be able to imagine that a better world is actually possible. issues.org/futuretensef...

Illustration by Rey Velasquez Sagcal

On the ocean floor, an isolated roadside bar buried in a vast network of tunnels is staffed by a claustrophobic waitress who dreams of life above the surface.

Read “Tunnel Fever,” our new #FutureTenseFiction short story by Margrét Helgadóttir:
issues.org/futuretensef... #speculativefiction

Foiling the Growing Threat of Fungal Pathogens Climate change, changing migration patterns, and our agriculture system have created a perfect environment for fungal pathogens to thrive.

Fungi are getting better at infecting humans. Angel N. Desai & @grthompsonmd.bsky.social warn that as extreme weather happen more frequently, the threat of often-deadly fungal pathogens, aka mycoses, will continue to grow.

Reconsidering Research Security Research security requires that the United States remains an innovation leader by supporting the people and infrastructure that fuel it.

“Research security isn’t only about defending against external threats,” John C. Gannon, Richard A. Meserve, and @maria-zuber.bsky.social argue—it also requires “investing in the future workforce and providing the foundation for scientific and technological advances.”

Leaving No-Woman’s-Land The science and clinical practice of women’s sexual health have been ignored for too long. Changes are needed.

The “loop of avoidance” around women’s sexual health: Research funders avoid “the treacherous whirlpool of female sexuality,” medical education neglects the issue, and clinicians don’t bring it up. ‪@drjewelk.bsky.social‬, Sara Collina, & Lindy Elkins-Tanton write:

What We Talk About When We Talk About Impact Academia’s mission now includes “impact”—but what does that mean?

“Rarely, if ever, do ideas—academic or otherwise—blaze a trail in the sky and leave a clear mark where their impact has occurred.”

Now that impact is a goal in #academia, social scientist David H. Guston proposes a “catechism” for understanding, measuring, & creating it:

Innovation as a Force for Equity Making today’s health innovations more accessible requires thinking differently about expertise, innovation, and systems for ensuring access to technologies.

The richest 1% of Americans live 10 to 15 years longer, on average, than the poorest 1%—despite the billions spent annually on biomedical innovation. So if the US innovation system isn’t innovating for societal equity, what is it innovating for? Read @shobitap.org:

Documenting a Carbon Bust Review of the book "Forest Lost: Producing Green Capitalism in the Brazilian Amazon" by Maron E. Greenleaf.

“I found Greenleaf’s challenge to broadly accepted policy narratives extremely stimulating. It made me question the assumptions on which much modern conservation discourse rests.” Read Beren Ilgaz Ünsal’s review of Maron Greenleaf’s @dukepress.bsky.social book FOREST LOST: issues.org/forest-lost-...