U.S. May Need Foreign Partners To Pursue Large Science Projects

Abstract

To maintain scientific leadership, the U.S. may need to boost collaboration with other nations, particularly in large projects, says a report just released by the congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). The U.S. and other nations are increasingly drawn to international partnerships as budget pressures grow, new centers of expertise emerge around the world, and the complexity of scientific projects—such as the need to study global-scale problems like climate change—mounts. Indeed, OTA notes, Some scientifically worthy but expensive projects might not be pursued at all unless carried out on a collaborative basis. Only recently has the U.S. begun to participate in international big science projects. They include the National Aeronautics & Space Administration's work with Russia, as well as the European Space Agency, Japan, and Canada, on an international space station, scheduled for completion by 2002 at a capital cost of $38 billion (excluding operational expenses). The U.S. is coll...