Research Library

Science and technology policy usually takes a back seat to issues such as immigration, the economy, and health care during election season. What’s changed for 2024?

To restore America’s leadership in science, the next presidential administration must prioritize investment in science and technology as key to economic progress, national security, and a healthy society. This will require a coordinated interagency national plan and the support of both political parties.

As foreign interference and the prevalence of disinformation test our democratic processes, election administrators must work across the aisle to demonstrate a shared commitment to healthy election systems at all levels of government. This brief provides a framework for effective bipartisan policies that balance the linchpins required equitable access and integrity of the results.

While Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump differ on clean energy policy, neither candidate has yet to offer a comprehensive energy plan. In a new commentary featured in The Conversation, Daniel S. Cohan examines how legislation, regulations, and trade policy will guide either administration’s approach to the energy transition.

To ensure U.S. technological and economic competitiveness, America’s new administration must work with Congress to enact appropriations for basic research, STEM education, and workforce development at a level consistent with the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act’s authorizations.

Subjective U.S. research security policies are threatening critical partnerships between global scientists, especially between the U.S. and China. New policies based on empirical evidence are needed to protect American science while maintaining the nation’s global economic and technological competitiveness.

As Mexico becomes a desirable site for nearshoring, damaging environmental and social impacts on the border region may be exacerbated under the economic growth. A new report by research scholar Ivonne Cruz dissects the relationship between nearshoring’s ecological and socioeconomic risks and offers trade policy recommendations to support sustainable economic development, mitigate potential hazards, and safeguard local communities.

Health care providers now screen patients for social determinants of health, also known as non-medical drivers of health, and many rely on referrals to community-based organizations (CBOs) to address those needs. Strengthening CBOs and enhancing collaboration with health care organizations is essential. In a new brief, nonresident fellow Dr. Sheela Gavvala and co-authors offer policy recommendations to close the loop and ensure patients receive the care they need within a cohesive system.

This report explores the many challenges in securing minerals and materials for evolving energy needs. From lengthy project timelines to China’s control of supply chains, these obstacles are creating a multifaceted and uncertain energy landscape — and a vast range of possible energy futures.

The U.S. needs streamlined approval processes and investments in transmission infrastructure to eliminate the backlog of pending clean electricity projects, satisfy the growing demand for electricity, and meet federal and state climate goals, writes faculty scholar Daniel S. Cohan.