3. White House Office of science and technology policy: Revolutionary science and technology is needed and possible

Abstract

Grand Challenges are ambitious but achievable goals that harness science, technology, and innovation to solve important national or global problems and that have the potential to capture the public’s imagination. Grand Challenges are an element of the President’s Strategy for American Innovation because they help catalyze breakthroughs that advance national priorities. President Obama has called on companies, research universities, foundations, and philanthropists to join him in identifying and pursuing the Grand Challenges of the 21st century. Grand Challenges can (1) help create the industries and jobs of the future; (2) expand the frontiers of human knowledge about ourselves and the world around us; (3) help tackle important problems related to energy, health, education, the environment, national security, and global development; and (4) serve as a “North Star” for collaboration between the public and private sectors. Dr. Barbero’s talk will challenge the community of experts to articulate a Grand Challenge focused on eliminating the long wait list for organ donation by enabling breakthroughs in the science and technology of organ banking and transplantation.