The event was organized by the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, chaired by Sen. Mark Begich (Ark.), and included participation by Sens. Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), Benjamin Cardin (Md.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Bernard Sanders (Vt.) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), as well as the following university leaders: Joseph Aoun, president of Northeastern University in Boston; James Clements, president of West Virginia University; Daniel Fogel, president of the University of Vermont; Allan Gilmour, president of Wayne State University; Michael Johns, chancellor of Emory University in Atlanta; Wallace Loh, president of the University of Maryland; Samuel Stanley, president of Stony Brook University in Long Island, N.Y.; and Randy Woodson, chancellor of North Carolina State University. The universities are members of The Science Coalition.
The university leaders discussed the many ways in which their institutions, as centers of federally funded research, help fuel the economy - from being local economic engines to driving industrial innovation to enabling America to compete in the global economy.
According to Gilmour, research universities play an essential role in driving innovation. "Business needs basic research done at academic institutions," he said. "For example, Ford spent about $5 billion on R and D in 2009. Not basic research, but applied research and development. Small r; big D. Some years back, business did do basic research, most famously at Bell labs, Xerox, GM and Ford. But no longer. Why? We've seen a narrowing of business portfolios. Research can have unclear applications when it begins. Basic research is too risky and too long. Good business is pushing ahead, but the seed corn is basic research. We can develop only so far - the R is essential for business to succeed in the long term."
The discussion occurred as Congress and the White House worked to negotiate an agreement to fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year. Federal funding for scientific research is among the government programs targeted for significant reduction under certain budget-cutting scenarios.
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu