Personal Perspectives
OSTI personal perspectives are statements by members of the OSTI community about their contributions to the OSTI mission and their experiences.
03
Nov
2008
Two hundred years ago the gulf between the rich and the common people was huge, illustrated by these photos. On the left is Doughoregan Manor at Ellicott City, Maryland, largely built in the 1700’s, home of Charles Carroll of Carrolton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. On the right is the cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 located at Hodgenville, Kentucky. Today, the public view of these times is influenced by the fact that many of the fabulous mansions yet survive, while the cabins that housed common people have long since been replaced.
Sources: Wikipedia articles "Abraham Lincoln" and "Doughoregan Manor".
The immediate goal of science is understanding, rather than social utility. In the rush of day-to-day activity it is easy to overlook how science allows us to live better. The path from science to better lives is complex and often takes decades. In broad terms, basic research first hands off its results to applied research. Applied research then hands off to technology research and development, which then flows into entrepreneurship and finally manufacturing and distribution. Then, and only then, are great benefits realized from science knowledge.
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23
Sep
2008
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05
Sep
2008
03
Jul
2008
24
Jun
2008
20
May
2008
18
Jan
2008
Allan Cormack
A young father of two lies in a hospital bed seriously ill. The physician admits he has no treatment. The pancreas is secreting substances that are digesting itself and destroying surrounding tissue. Some patients recover on their own; others simply expire. Only time will tell which fate awaits the young father.
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20
Dec
2007
As a staff member involved in OSTI’s Web presence, it was personally satisfying today to hear Google’s J.L. Needham mention OSTI in testimony to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
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05
Dec
2007
Yesterday my son had an emergency appendectomy – these days a pretty routine procedure. But far from routine was the array of drugs offered to get him through the long night ahead.
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16
Nov
2007
In 2005, the idea of creating a global science gateway for the web was conceived at OSTI. It would make the best collections of scientific information from nations around the world act as if they were a single enormous collection. It would be searchable via a single query, and it would be available at no cost to anyone anywhere with web access.
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