Sputnik Again? The State of U.S. Competitiveness, Security, and Science on the 50th Anniversary of the Sputnik I Launch

ASTRA, The Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America and CSIS, The Center for Strategic and International Studies, hosted a panel discussion on the current state of U.S. Competitiveness, Security and Science on October 4, 2007 — the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik I.

Sputnik’s launch impelled an unprecedented expansion in America's support for scientific research and education in the face of a technological threat that caught us by surprise.  Fifty years later, we face another threat, that of growing international competition.  However, unlike the launch of Sputnik, we have seen this coming.

The session assessed the status of science and innovation in the U.S. and how the passage of the America Competes Act of 2007 might help alter the overall landscape.  Is it possible that America Competes may be as significant as the legislation that followed Sputnik I’s launch in 1957?

Speakers for this event included:

• Dr. Mary Good, Chairman of ASTRA and Dean, Donaghey School of Information Science, University of Arkansas (Little Rock)                         

• William Bonvillian, MIT Washington Office
• Dr. Susan Butts, Dow Chemical Company
• Dr. Charles Herzfeld, Potomac Institute and Sputnik I “alumnus"
• Jim Turner, Chief Counsel, House Science and Technology Committee