NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD
4201 Wilson Boulevard
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22230
January 15, 2004
The Honorable George W. Bush
The President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
It is my honor to transmit to you, and through you to the Congress,
the sixteenth in the series of biennial Science Indicators reports,
Science and Engineering Indicators – 2004. The National
Science Board submits this report in accordance with Sec. 4(j)1
of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended.
The Science Indicators series was designed to provide a broad base of quantitative information about U.S. science, engineering, and technology for use by public and private policymakers. Because of the spread of scientific and technological capabilities around the world, this report presents a significant amount of material about these international capabilities and analyzes the U.S. position in this broader context.
Science and Engineering Indicators – 2004 contains
quantitative analyses of key aspects of the scope, quality, and
vitality of the Nation's science and engineering enterprise. The
report presents material on science, mathematics, and engineering
education from the elementary level through graduate school and
beyond; the scientific and engineering workforce; U.S. and international
R&D performers, activities, and outcomes; U.S. competitiveness
in high technology; public attitudes and understanding of science
and engineering; and the significance of information technologies
for science and for the daily lives of our citizens in schools,
the workplace, and the community. An overview chapter presents the
key themes emerging from these analyses.
This report demonstrates the strength the United States has derived
from the open flow of ideas. Maintaining this openness and the relative
advantage it has bestowed on the country remains crucial to the
Nation's security and well-being. The proponents of openness, not
those who stand ready to subvert science and technology for malevolent
ends, are in the best position to exploit the fruits of science.
I hope that you, your Administration, and the Congress will find the new quantitative information and analysis in the report useful and timely for informing thinking and planning on national priorities, policies, and programs in science and technology.
Respectfully yours,
Warren M. Washington
Chairman
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