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Dr. Colwell's Remarks

 


Dr. Rita R. Colwell
Director
National Science Foundation
Remarks to the National Medals of Science
and Technology Awards Dinner

March 13, 2000

Thank you, Rosing, for your opening insights.

It is, indeed, a great pleasure to be a part of this glorious event to honor our nation's most distinguished scientists and engineers.

We are here to recognize a stellar group: people whose contributions have greatly advanced the progress of humankind.

We admire and appreciate them for their spirit of adventure and for their strong resolve to uncovering the unknown.

We also honor them for, in the words of President Clinton:

"Their achievements, contributions, and innovations that have sustained U.S. leadership... [and] enhanced our ability to shape and improve our nation's future."

In looking to the future, I would like to note that tonight's 12 honorees are the last of the 20th century to receive Medals of Science-since they are receiving 1999 awards.

Since Einstein was recently named person of the century, these awards now seem to carry extra significance.

We can be certain that we will reap the benefits from the work of these outstanding scientists for centuries, perhaps millenniums to come.

When we consider our new century, we can't help but look back in awe at how far science and engineering has brought us-how far the contributions of tonight's awardees and all the previous medallists have taken us in terms of progress and opportunity.

At the National Science Foundation, we are also doing a bit of historical reflecting. This May marks the Foundation's 50th anniversary.

That is 50 years that NSF has invested in science and engineering research and in education. Or simply put, 50 years of investing in people.

Whenever we tell the story of the Foundation, we cite the benefits of fundamental research.

It's a familiar list: MRIs, lasers, Doppler radar, and countless others. These advances draw upon a multitude of disciplines.

And they emerged due to the passion, persistence and dedication of scientists and engineers, including the ones we are honoring here this evening.

Their work has made it possible for us to understand, for example, the reasons for the Antarctic ozone "hole," the complexity of the microbial world and our environment, and the effects of investment and technological progress impact economic growth.

And as you view the next segment of the video clips, you'll understand the tremendous breadth and scope of the fields our honorees' discoveries represent.

Collectively, we have over four centuries worth of knowledge and wisdom among these scientists. That's awesome.

I have one more note about NSF as I talk about this amazing group being honored here. Our support for graduate education has been crucial to all of the areas our medallists represent.

That's why at NSF, we're making a very strong investment in our core research activities.

This allows us to involve more students in research, and to bring in more young investigators to stimulate the pipeline in developing great scientific minds that will carry us into the future.

Most of our honorees have been recognized for their mentoring efforts and their support of young researchers. You have inspired new generations of students to pursue successful careers in science and engineering.

Today, NSF programs are touching 200,000 people in some way. It's not just the research that we touch, but the lives-the people who go out to be heads of industry, corporations, and yes, Medals of Science awardees.

History has taught us time and again that there is no better way to invest in the future.

Thanks to the President's recent budget proposal for NSF, we have before us a great opportunity to continue that strong investment. This proposal is a $675 million dollar increase.

That's double the largest increase ever proposed in NSF's history. We've always known that the President appreciates the importance of fundamental science and engineering to society.

So, our 50th anniversary is not the only cause for celebration.

Congratulations to all of you, for all that you have done and continue to do for science, engineering, and society.

 

 
 
     
 

 
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