Because of rising concerns about the urgency of the energy problem and implications for the United States and federal policy, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, along with Rice University's Department of Physics and Astronomy, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Los Alamos National Laboratory, convened a two-day workshop titled "Bridging the Gap Between Science and Society: The Relationship Between Policy and Research in National Laboratories, Universities, Government, and Industry." The conference focused on critical issues of energy and related science and technology policy and included public presentations and discussions by more than 30 top scientists and energy and policy experts. Among the topics covered were overall energy policy and societal impacts; climate change; nuclear energy policy; science advice to policymakers; math, science and engineering education; and the role science plays in advancing international relations. In addition, the conference participants took the occasion to honor the contributions of Neal Lane, former director of the NSF and former assistant to the president for science and technology during the Clinton administration.
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