January 11, 1994

Annotated Table of Contents

Science & Technology in American Government
[working title]

Jesse H. Ausubel and Joshua Lederberg

Foreword - David A. Hamburg

Origins of the Carnegie Commmission on Science, Technology, and Government,
(CCSTG), what was accomplished

Source: Press Release announcing formation of CCSTG

Preface - William T. Golden and Joshua Lederberg
How the CCSTG carried out it work, purpose of this book, audience

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction and Overview (20 pp double-spaced)
[Scope & plan of the book]

Book addresses:
1) Science for Policy
a) Science and engineering as ways of thinking that inform
decision-making
b) Science & technology as specialized knowledge that informs
decision-making
2) Policy for Science
How decisions are made about S&T

Time horizon, the past 50 and next 20 years; what is meant by
science and technology in this context; what have science and
technology transformed in the past 50 years (examples, warfare,
production, environment, health); why focus on organization and
decision-making; relevant analytic frameworks from the social
sciences; previous scholarship in the area; primer on U.S.
political organization and culture (explain briefly roles of
branches of government, states)

Sources: e.g., lst Congress report on role of Congress, W. 0.
Baker, H. Brooks, A.H. Dupree, W.T. Golden, J. Lederberg, M.
Polanyi, D. Price, A. Weinberg, etc.
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Growth and Diffusion of Science in American Government (20 pp)
[History and Data Chapter]

Creation, diffusion, and growth of relevant and exemplary
institutions, positions, and personnel in all branches at both
federal and state levels; baseline information of key dates,
numbers, etc.; identification of broad seasons, cycles, and eras
of organizational growth and change to the extent they exist

Sources: e.g., Campbell reports, Prune Book, B. Smith books,
"historical" sections of several CCSTG reports, Hannan and Freeman
on population ecology of organizations

Is There a Problem? (20 pp)
[Establishing an analytic framework]

Generic problems of inputs to decision-making, processes, outcomes
with examples; conflicting and contrasting estimates and
perceptions of problems; framework for understanding the variety
of perceptions and diagnoses: top-down, bottom-up, and other
views; e.g., information shortage v. information glut, problems of
inertia v. benefits of stability

Sources: M. Douglas, A. Wildavsky, Y. Ezrahi, 0. Williamson, S.
Jasanoff, C. Lindblom, A. George, N. Luhmann, J. Habermas, J.
March, etc.

Views from the Top (30 pp)

Need for rather informal, loosely structured, adaptive networks,
clubs, marketplaces, entrepreneurship, leadership

Science Advisor; PCAST; Science 60; Members of Congress (S&T Study
Conference); Governors (Compact of the States); Judges (judicial
education, special masters, etc.); NAS; Carnegie Group of Science
Advisors; ICSU; S&T Fellows (e.g., AAAS); JASON, DSB and other
elite advisory groups

Sources: relevant portions of all CCSTG reports, Dam Report, Prune Book

Views Inside the Pyramid (50 pp)

Needs for clear charters, coordination, analysis, planning,
evaluation, professionalization; problems of classic dysfunctions
of bureaucracy; problems don't map neatly onto organizational
units
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Sections on:
White House & EOP, e.g., E°, Risk
FCCSET
Economic Performance/Dept. Commerce
Math & Science Education/NSF & DEd
National Security/ DoD, nARPA (dual use)
Health/ HHS (biology vs. economics)
Environment/ EPA, DOI, NOAA et al.
Health & Safety Regulation/ FDA, OSHA, EPA, et al
International Relations/ State
International Development/ AID
Congressional Agencies: OTA, CRS, GAO, CBO
Judiciary: FJC
Goals Forum

Sources: Relevant sections of all CCSTG Reports, J. Q. Wilson, 0.
Williamson

Views from Below (20 pp)
Need for modesty, avoidance of manipulation

Scepticism about expertise, flawed performance of experts, peers
v. experts, wariness of institutions

Sources: Yaron Ezrahi'’s Descent of Icarus, Vaclav Havel’s Davos
Forum speech

Views from Outside (30 pp)

Need for critical, truculent, pesky groups; corruption of the
Republic of Science; conflicts of interest; preference for
egalitarian styles, openness and participation, voluntarism
NGOs: problems in governance, funding, reliability, impact

Problems in the social organization of science itself

Preference for transient organizations, need for consortia to
address particular issues

Sources: NGO report, D. Nelkin

Paradoxes and Mismatches (20 pages)

Who can play both roles: scientist and politician - the values of
disinterestedness and detachment under stress

We want the best people to serve but make it hard to serve
We want public entrepreneurship but penalize risk acceptance
We want transparency but also informality and confidentiality

University/government: Science as an elite, individualist activity
supported by agencies whose cultures oppose this

Science & Democracy

World technologies and national sovereignty
Global citizenship and national interests
... {others ]

Sources: Warren Hagstrom, S. Jasanoff, Y. Ezrahi, F. Seitz, D.
Chubin's OTA Report on Federally Funded Research

 

9. Harnessing the Full Power of Pluralism (15 pp)
What for: Challenges of the next 20 years affected by S&T, e.g.,
changes in life span, zero emission energy systems, reduction in
lifetime working hours
How: Make all the active voices strong and informed; enable them
to interact in a balanced way; accept full organizational ecology
of science advice and a dynamic view of organizational change and
sectoral interaction
Closing speculations: Where some of the greatest perils and
opportunities lie
Sources: C.S. Holling, J. Schumpeter

Bibliography

Appendices (optional):
Carnegie Commission's Top 20 Recommendations
List of Commission publications, papers
List of members of Commission, Task Forces, consultants

Index