University of Florida Astronomer Calls on Congress to Support Investments in Research and Development

by Reba Bandyopadhyay

Reba Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Scientist at the University of Florida, traveled to Washington, DC, to express thanks and appreciation to Congress for recent appropriations actions in the FY2010 spending bill in support of science, engineering, and technology research and development (R&D).
Dr. Bandyopadhyay joined with more than 250 scientists, engineers, and business leaders who made visits on Capitol Hill as part of the 15th annual Congressional Visits Day, sponsored by the Science-Engineering-Technology Work Group (www.setcvd.org), on April 28-29. She was one of 16 members of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) who traveled to Washington for the event.

While visiting congressional offices, CVD participants discussed the importance of the nation’s broad portfolio of investments in science, engineering, and technology to promoting U.S. prosperity and innovation. Most importantly, they provided a constituent perspective on the local and national impact of these programs and their significance to Florida. Dr. Bandyopadhyay visited the offices of Senators Bill Nelson and George LeMieux and Representatives Corrine Brown and Cliff Stearns, speaking to staffers for each Congressperson about the importance of federal funding for science R&D. She spoke specifically about ground- and space-based astronomical instrumentation development currently underway at UF, and how such work can help to build Florida’s “knowledge economy”.

“I was very pleased to participate in Congressional Visits Day. I believe that discussing the benefits of federal science and technology programs in person with our elected legislators is critical to securing the ongoing support of agencies such as NSF and NASA. The technology arising from the research in these federal agencies is central America’s competitiveness in the world economy.”

More than 50% of all industrial innovation and growth in the United States since World War II can be attributed to advances pioneered through scientific research, with publicly funded R&D the vital foundation for today’s scientific and technological progress. Achievements from federally funded science, engineering, and technology include global environmental monitoring, lasers, liquid crystal displays, the Internet, and many other scientific and technical advances.

The federal government supports a unique research and education enterprise that fuels the American economy. This enterprise provides the underpinning of high-technology industries and expands the frontiers of knowledge in every field of science. Much of this research is carried out at academic institutions across the country, ensuring knowledge transfer to future generations of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, physicians, and teachers. Additionally, technology transfer from academic research adds billions of dollars to the economy each year and supports tens of thousands of jobs.

Dr. Bandyopadhyay said that her most memorable experience was visiting the offices of Florida’s two Senators. “I was impressed with the interest in and knowledge about science and technology research shown by the staff members of both Senators Nelson and LeMieux. They clearly understood the importance of R&D to Florida, and how federal funding is vital to such research in our public universities and NASA.”

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The Science-Engineering-Technology Work Group is an information network comprising professional, scientific, and engineering societies, institutions of higher learning, and trade associations. The sponsors represent more than a million researchers and professionals in science and engineering. The Work Group is concerned about the future vitality of the U.S. science, mathematics, and engineering enterprise.

More information about 2010 Congressional Visits Day can be found at on the Web: http://www.setcvd.org