Artificial intelligence and the internet, cancer cures and vaccines, as well as clean water and clean energy all have one thing in common: They are the result of the American people’s bipartisan support for publicly funded research and development (R&D) over the past eight decades. Today, however, the country’s public research foundations that enable these major advances are facing substantial risk.
We hosted Arati Prabhakar, former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and science and technology advisor to President Joe Biden, for a candid conversation about the U.S.’ federally funded R&D that has been internationally recognized and respected, its currently vulnerable state, and the steps needed to build a fortified American research enterprise for the future.
The lecture was part of the Baker Institute Civic Scientist Lecture Series, sponsored by Virginia Clark with additional support from Benjamin and Winifer Cheng, Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Wiess School of Natural Sciences. Lunch will be provided.
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Civic Scientist Lecture Series
Sponsored by the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program, the Civic Scientist Lecture Series aims to increase the engagement of scientists and engineers with society to expand the public’s knowledge and interest in science.
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Agenda
11:30am — Check in and Lunch
12:00pm — Welcome Remarks (10min)
12:10pm — Q&A Session with Neal Lane
1:00pm — Adjorn
Participants
Moderator
Neal Lane, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute
Featured Speaker
Arati Prabhakar, Ph.D., served in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet as his science and technology advisor and as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Her work spanned artificial intelligence, health outcomes, climate and clean energy, and innovation for a prosperous and secure America. She previously served as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In the private sector, she was chief technology officer for a specialty materials manufacturer, a venture capitalist investing in semiconductors and cleantech startups, and the founder of an innovation-focused nonprofit organization.
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