Research

Center to be first of its kind in the United States

March 23, 2009 -- AUSTIN – Texas Governor Rick Perry has announced the state will invest $50 million through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) in the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) to create the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing (NCTM). The center will be an international destination for research and development of medications to combat diseases such as cancer, diabetes and influenza, and will serve as a model for future national facilities that will protect the nation from bio-terror threats and attacks.    » read more »

DOE Support for Advanced Battery Manufacturing and Electric Vehicle Deployment to Create Tens of Thousands of U.S. Jobs

March 19, 2009 -- POMONA, CA - Today, President Barack Obama announced the availability of $2.4 billion in funding to put American ingenuity and America's manufacturers to work producing next generation Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and the advanced battery components that will make these vehicles run. The initiative will create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and help us end our addiction to foreign oil. Americans who decide to purchase these Plug-in Hybrid vehicles can claim a tax credit of up to $7,500.    » read more »

March 18, 2009 -- While the number of charter schools continues to grow, debate continues about whether charter schools provide a better education experience than traditional public schools. Proponents contend that charter schools expand educational choices for students, increase innovation, improve student achievement and provide much-needed competition to public schools.

Opponents, meanwhile, argue that charter schools lead to increased racial or ethnic stratification of students, skim the best students from traditional public schools, reduce resources for public schools and provide no real improvement in student achievement.    » read more »

March 17, 2009 -- U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. -- Chairman Gordon, Ranking Member Hall, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to talk about new directions for energy research and development at the Department of Energy.

Today, we import roughly 60 percent of our oil, draining resources from our economy and leaving it vulnerable to supply disruptions. Much of that oil is controlled by regimes that do not share our values, weakening our security. Additionally, if we continue our current rates of greenhouse gas emissions, the consequences for our climate could be disastrous.    » read more »

3/13/2009 -- (HELENA) – Montana State University Northern has received a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant of $990,312.50 to support and expand training activities at the Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center in Havre. The funds were awarded by the Montana Department of Commerce through Montana’s WIRED program and will be administered by the Montana Office of Higher Education.

“These funds will help train Montana students to meet the growing demand for diesel engine techs experienced in bio-fuels,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “The bio-based fuel, oil and additive industry is growing by leaps and bounds and MSU-Northern is helping Montana lead the nation.”    » read more »

ARGONNE, Ill. (March 11, 2009) – Eric D. Isaacs, a prominent University of Chicago physicist and senior administrator at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, has been selected to become the next director of Argonne. The appointment will be effective May 1, 2009.

University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer made the announcement in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of UChicago Argonne, LLC, which operates Argonne for the Department of Energy. The university has managed Argonne for the United States government since 1946. Energy Secretary Steven Chu met yesterday with Isaacs and Zimmer in his office in Washington, D.C., and supported Isaacs' candidacy.    » read more »

New Lab Space Set to Open In Bangalore, India; Adds to Expansions in United States, Germany and China

BANGALORE, India & FAIRFIELD, Conn.--11 March 2009-- GE Global Research, the technology development arm of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), today announced the opening of its newest research space, a 350,000 sq. ft. building at its technology campus in Bangalore, India. The new environmentally designed building, which is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certified, will house nearly 2,000 researchers.    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will receive $610 million in funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The agency will use the funds for programs that support U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness, key factors in spurring economic growth.    » read more »

Cobalt oxide nanocrystals can effectively be used to split water molecules, one of the half reactions critical to an artifical photosynthesis system for producing liquid fuels from sunlight.

March 10, 2009 -- Berkeley, CA - For millions of years, green plants have employed photosynthesis to capture energy from sunlight and convert it into electrochemical energy. A goal of scientists has been to develop an artificial version of photosynthesis that can be used to produce liquid fuels from carbon dioxide and water.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- "Science and the scientific process must inform and guide decisions of my Administration on a wide range of issues, including improvement of public health, protection of the environment, increased efficiency in the use of energy and other resources, mitigation of the threat of climate change, and protection of national security.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- EXECUTIVE ORDER

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Research involving human embryonic stem cells and human non-embryonic stem cells has the potential to lead to better understanding and treatment of many disabling diseases and conditions. Advances over the past decade in this promising scientific field have been encouraging, leading to broad agreement in the scientific community that the research should be supported by Federal funds.    » read more »

(As prepared for delivery)

March 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Today, with the Executive Order I am about to sign, we will bring the change that so many scientists and researchers; doctors and innovators; patients and loved ones have hoped for, and fought for, these past eight years: we will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research. We will vigorously support scientists who pursue this research. And we will aim for America to lead the world in the discoveries it one day may yield.    » read more »

Washington, DC -- March 9, 2009 -- Listed below are the individuals who will attend today’s event.

Stage Participants

Energy Secretary Stephen Chu Dr. Peter Agre
Dr. Patricia Bath
Dr. H. Robert Horvitz
Dr. Janet Rowley
Dr. Harold Varmus

Dr. Peter Agre    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- Today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation. Its time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore Americas place as the world leader in science and technology. - President Barack Obama

Today, in conjunction with the issuance of a new Presidential memo on scientific integrity, President Obama is signing a Presidential Executive Order removing barriers to responsible scientific research involving human stem cells.

This Executive Order by President Obama revokes the Executive Order signed by President Bush on June 20, 2007 and the Bush Presidential statement of August 9, 2001 that limited federal funding of research involving human embryonic stem cells.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu made the following statement regarding President Obama's decision to allow promising stem cell research to go forward under strict ethical guidelines:

“One of the reasons I joined President Obama’s cabinet was his commitment to making decisions on the basis of sound science rather than ideology – a commitment he demonstrated again today with his thoughtful, compassionate decision to allow ethical stem cell research to go forward.    » read more »