Biden announces Science and Technology Policy director, elevates position to Cabinet-level

[BrokenFiction]

Thank Science.

Biden announces Science and Technology Policy director, elevates position to Cabinet-level

President-elect Joe Biden will make his final Cabinet announcement on Saturday when he names his top science adviser and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

www.nbcnews.com

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden will be announcing one of the last major department heads on Saturday, highlighting his campaign refrain to prioritize "science over fiction."

Biden will name Dr. Eric Lander to serve as his top science adviser and will be elevating Lander's position as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to a Cabinet rank position for the first time.

During the Saturday rollout of his science team, Biden will also announce he is keeping Dr. Francis Collins as the director of the National Institutes of Health. Collins was first appointed by former President Obama in 2009.

Lander is an acclaimed mathematician and biologist who led the Human Genome Project, and now serves as director of the Broad Institute at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Biden transition team says Lander will lead a team focused on tackling challenges from Covid-19 to climate change, racial justice and the economic downturn.

 

[Huncho_Houdini]

Yeah it's common sense.

Also with the rise of anti-science and anti-intellectual sentiment in this country, we really need someone pushing policy to fight it.

 

[steejee]

Nice to see Science matter again.

 

[Biggzy]

There was a reason why Scientific American decided to do a presidential endorsement for the first time in its history. There was a very concerning erosion of science at the head of the government during the Trump administration and it will be good to see Biden bringing science back to the table.

 

[fick]

No idea on the pick, but that's awesome it's getting a cabinet position.

 

[Deleted member 86105]

"Biden further outlined the questions he wants Lander's team to address in a letter to Lander: What lessons can be drawn from the pandemic about how to better prepare for addressing health challenges in the future; how scientific breakthroughs can be harnessed to address climate change while also promoting economic growth; how the United States can maintain an advantage in developing new technologies over other nations like China; how to ensure scientific advances benefit all Americans; and how to promote science and technology education in America. "

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I'm really happy about the multi-faceted climate change focus from this administration. FINALLY we are getting real attention placed on how to solve it, and not just throwaway platitudes. Climate change is the biggest existential crisis of our time, potentially leading to our grandchildren facing the apocalypse, and little has been done on a systemic level to address it. If anything, we've accelerated our demise these past four years.

 

[Tigerfog]

Science matters. It always did.
This is good.

 

[Joe]

Now we can finally put some federal resources into figuring out why bikes don't fall over. About time.

 

[Cow Mengde]

Not, not bad at all. It's good having science in their cabinet. Should have been done decades ago.

 

[Maxim726x]

I'm sure people will find a reason to complain soon enough... But I'm impressed with what his administration has done already. I think he realizes that he has a small window to get things done and he needs to capitalize on it.

 

[AMAGON]

Fuck yeah science

 

[Dodongo]

Hell yeah. I'm good with this.

 

[adj_noun]

edit: oops

 

[Pet]

Awesome.

and then when a pro-science bit of legislature comes around he could influence people to support the

BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL

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Am I missing something? Biden did pick Dr. Eric Lander already didn't he?

 

[Shooter]

Science is the work of the devil!

 

[Volimar]

 

[BronzeWolf]

This is awesome!

 

[btags]

Good to see Collins staying at the nih. I know he wanted to leave during the trump admin but others urged him to stay on.

 

[Lulu]

Biden coming in hot

 

[shinobi602]

2021 continuing the redemption arc.

 

[Nude_Tayne]

I almost want to cry reading things like this. It's saddening to feel a sense of profound and existential relief, if not for a short while, just because of a new president.

 

[hydruxo]

 

[ErichWK]

God I'm so fucking happy Biden won.

 

[Kopite]

Oh no, he's listening to scientists!

 

[Thorn]

Love it.

 

[Nude_Tayne]

God I'm so fucking happy Biden won.

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I had a moment earlier today where I imagined a timeline where Trump was re-elected. I almost had a panic attack just thinking about it.

 

[Hu3]

Good. This country needs to be back on track again.

 

[Darksol]

About time

 

[shikamaroooo]

This is good

 

[AWizardDidIt]

It's wild that a position like this never existed before. Just shows how backwards this country has always been in regard to science. Hopefully this sets a standard going forward.

 

[SolidSnakeBoy]

No idea on the pick, but that's awesome it's getting a cabinet position.

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He was co-chair of this position during the Obama years. Founding director of the Broad Institute. Worked on the Human Genome project. He's also a great teacher (he taught my intro Bio class at MIT). He's definitely a great pick for the position as he has significant administrative experience.

 

[Rendering...]

Imagine trusting science, kekw, omegalul. Jet planes work because prayer.

 

[MrSaturn99]

...this wasn't a thing?

 

[Blader]

It's wild that a position like this never existed before. Just shows how backwards this country has always been in regard to science. Hopefully this sets a standard going forward.

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It's a pre-existing position, it just hasn't been Cabinet level before.

 

[HanSoloCup]

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Haha! Thought I might see this here. Did not disappoint.

 

[BringBackSonics]

Let's go

 

[geomon]

 

[Euphoria]

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Came here for this.

Wasn't disappointed.

 

[night814]

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Yup

 

[Annubis]

 

[Mahonay]

This is the kind of stuff that will hopefully help steer the ship away from sailing off the Flat Earth.

 

[fick]

He was co-chair of this position during the Obama years. Founding director of the Broad Institute. Worked on the Human Genome project. He's also a great teacher (he taught my intro Bio class at MIT). He's definitely a great pick for the position as he has significant administrative experience.

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So some sort of nerd, huh?

 

[Fathead]

Science in the Cabinet.

 

[NeoBob688]

Well if science can be a cabinet position, then why shouldn't we equally have a traditional moral values cabinet and a second amendment cabinet! I also demand a new kitchen cabinet.

Seriously though this is great news.

 

[Deleted member 6056]

Its about fucking time a science lead for the country was a cabinet position involved at all levels of decision making on policy.

 

[Zombegoast]

Also Scientists:

Universal Healthcare is very important

 

[nujabeans]

But where is the religion cabinet position, Biden?

/s

 

[Helix]

wait science is important to shape policy during an international pandemic and an ever growing incline in climate change?! who would've thought....

 

[Beignet]

But where is the religion cabinet position, Biden?

/s

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This will come up from a few Republicans and you know it

 

[Helix]

Well if science can be a cabinet position, then why shouldn't we equally have a traditional moral values cabinet and a second amendment cabinet! I also demand a new kitchen cabinet.

Seriously though this is great news.

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if I have salt in the kitchen then that means I have science in my cabinet too right?