# American Science **Domain:** Science / Inquiry / Knowledge **Series:** [[american/American Ethos - Simple Reminders on Real American Pride|Simple Reminders on Real American Pride]] ## Definition American science begins with the permission to ask why and matures into the obligation to test the answer. Curiosity, measurement, disciplined doubt, engineering, and moral imagination belong to the same national instrument; knowledge becomes power only when it is made useful to human life. Laboratories and classrooms are therefore civic institutions, not decorative annexes to the republic. A scientifically capable nation can see farther, prepare earlier, heal more people, and build with greater honesty. Inquiry is one of the ways a free people keeps faith with the future. ## Place in the American System This node belongs to [[collections/American|the American Collection]] and interprets [[american/American Ethos - The Founding Brief|The Empirical Case]] and [[american/American Ethos - The Next 250|The Next 250]]. Its quotations remain sourced and editorially explained in [[american/American Ethos - Simple Reminders on Real American Pride|Simple Reminders on Real American Pride]]; their permanent poster objects appear below. ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > “Scientific progress is one essential key to our security as a nation, to our better health, to more jobs, to a higher standard of living, and to our cultural progress.” > **— Vannevar Bush**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Scientific Progress and National Life by Vannevar Bush|Scientific Progress and National Life by Vannevar Bush]] > “I asked questions; I wanted to know why.” > **— Katherine Johnson**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Asking Why by Katherine Johnson|Asking Why by Katherine Johnson]] > “If you enjoy puzzles, science or engineering may be the field for you.” > **— Nancy Grace Roman**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/The Invitation of the Puzzle by Nancy Grace Roman|The Invitation of the Puzzle by Nancy Grace Roman]] > “Scientific research and engineering is a continuous series of solving puzzles.” > **— Nancy Grace Roman**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Research as Continuous Problem Solving by Nancy Grace Roman|Research as Continuous Problem Solving by Nancy Grace Roman]] > “I think I’ve always been curious, and I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity.” > **— Nancy Grace Roman**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Curiosity as a Life Direction by Nancy Grace Roman|Curiosity as a Life Direction by Nancy Grace Roman]] > “Keep interested in science and do well in your math and science classes. Science and math education is critical to our country’s future.” > **— Sally Ride**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Science Education and the National Future by Sally Ride|Science Education and the National Future by Sally Ride]] > “From a child I had an inordinate desire for knowledge, and especially music, painting, flowers, and the sciences.” > **— George Washington Carver**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/An Inordinate Desire for Knowledge by George Washington Carver|An Inordinate Desire for Knowledge by George Washington Carver]] > “Through our scientific genius we have made of the world a neighborhood; now through our moral and spiritual genius we must make of it a brotherhood.” > **— Martin Luther King Jr.**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Scientific Genius and Moral Genius by Martin Luther King Jr.|Scientific Genius and Moral Genius by Martin Luther King Jr.]] > “I am experimenting upon an instrument which does for the eye what the phonograph does for the ear.” > **— Thomas Edison**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/An Instrument for the Eye by Thomas Edison|An Instrument for the Eye by Thomas Edison]] > “My observations since have only convinced me more firmly that human flight is possible and practicable.” > **— Wilbur Wright**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Flight as a Practical Possibility by Wilbur Wright|Flight as a Practical Possibility by Wilbur Wright]] > “[At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,] whether our researchers are accelerating scientific discovery and strengthening national security—advancing AI-driven research, reinforcing grid resilience, and reducing nuclear threats—or positioning the U.S. for global leadership in the bioeconomy, we accept great challenges for one purpose: to create a world that is more prosperous and secure.” > > **— Pacific Northwest National Laboratory**, *About PNNL* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Great Challenges, One Purpose by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory|Great Challenges, One Purpose by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory]] > “[At SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory:] We explore how the universe works at the biggest, smallest and fastest scales and invent powerful tools used by scientists around the globe. Our research helps solve real-world problems and advances the interests of the nation.” > > **— SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory**, *Mission, Vision, Values* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Exploring Every Scale and Advancing the Nation by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory|Exploring Every Scale and Advancing the Nation by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory]] > The Department of Energy Office of Science, the nation's largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, defines science itself as a form of service: “Science is about service – about a commitment to expanding human knowledge and driving discovery – and fosters innovation, technology development, and economic progress.” > > **— U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science**, *About Us* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/A Commitment to Expanding Human Knowledge by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science|A Commitment to Expanding Human Knowledge by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science]] > “The Office of Science supports the Nation's best minds, using the world's best facilities, to keep America at the forefront of discovery.” > > **— U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science**, *About Us* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Best Minds, Best Facilities by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science|Best Minds, Best Facilities by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science]] > The Department of Energy Office of Science presents its commitment to expanding human knowledge and driving discovery, together with unique capabilities, as a foundation of American scientific leadership: “This commitment, coupled with unique, world-class capabilities, is what makes the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Science an indispensable pillar of America's leadership in science and technology.” > > **— U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science**, *About Us* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/An Indispensable Pillar of American Leadership by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science|An Indispensable Pillar of American Leadership by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science]] > Oak Ridge National Laboratory states the purpose of its Fission research area: “Advancing fission to strengthen America's energy, security, and competitiveness.” > > **— Oak Ridge National Laboratory**, *Oak Ridge National Laboratory* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Advancing Fission by Oak Ridge National Laboratory|Advancing Fission by Oak Ridge National Laboratory]] > Under the institutional theme “Science and Technology on a Mission,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory states what bounds the realm of possibility: “At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the realm of what's possible is only bounded by the questions we're willing to ask.” > > **— Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory**, *Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Nothing but the Questions One Is Willing to Ask by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Nothing but the Questions One Is Willing to Ask by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory summarizes the duration and purpose of its mission-driven work: “For more than 70 years, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has applied science and technology (S&T) to make the world a safer place.” > > **— Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory**, *Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Seventy Years of Making the World Safer by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Seventy Years of Making the World Safer by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] > The laboratory system's steward identifies it among the nation's strategic assets: “The DOE laboratory system is the most comprehensive research system of its kind in the world, and constitutes a critical strategic scientific and technical resource.” > > **— U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science**, *About Us* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/The Laboratories as a National Resource by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science|The Laboratories as a National Resource by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science]] > The National Science Foundation records the mission Congress gave it in 1950: "Promote the progress of science. Advance the national health, prosperity and welfare. Secure the national defense." > > **— National Science Foundation**, *About NSF* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/The Statutory Charge of American Science by National Science Foundation|The Statutory Charge of American Science by National Science Foundation]] > The National Institute of Standards and Technology states the mission that couples measurement to national prosperity: "To promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life." > > **— National Institute of Standards and Technology**, *About NIST* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Measurement Science in the Service of Innovation by National Institute of Standards and Technology|Measurement Science in the Service of Innovation by National Institute of Standards and Technology]] > NIST states the future it intends its measurements and standards to make possible: “NIST will be the world's leader in creating critical measurement solutions and promoting equitable standards. Our efforts stimulate innovation, foster industrial competitiveness, and improve the quality of life.” > > **— National Institute of Standards and Technology**, *About NIST* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Measurement Solutions That Improve Life by National Institute of Standards and Technology|Measurement Solutions That Improve Life by National Institute of Standards and Technology]] > NIST names perseverance as an institutional duty: “We take the long view, planning the future with scientific knowledge and imagination to ensure continued impact and relevance for our stakeholders.” > > **— National Institute of Standards and Technology**, *About NIST* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Taking the Long View by National Institute of Standards and Technology|Taking the Long View by National Institute of Standards and Technology]] > NIST defines excellence as a practice rather than an ornament: “We apply rigor and critical thinking to achieve world-class results and continuous improvement in everything we do.” > > **— National Institute of Standards and Technology**, *About NIST* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Rigor in Everything We Do by National Institute of Standards and Technology|Rigor in Everything We Do by National Institute of Standards and Technology]] > NSF explains how it turns its statutory charge into national capacity: “We fulfill our mission chiefly by making grants. Our investments account for about 25% of federal support to America's colleges and universities for basic research: research driven by curiosity and discovery. We also support solutions-oriented research with the potential to produce advancements for the American people.” > > **— U.S. National Science Foundation**, *About NSF* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Curiosity and Discovery for the American People by U.S. National Science Foundation|Curiosity and Discovery for the American People by U.S. National Science Foundation]] > NSF states why it invests in fundamental research: “NSF invests in researchers as they probe the unknown and seek to understand nature's great mysteries. These investments support basic research across all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except the medical sciences, as well as use-inspired research with the potential to create products and solutions that improve people's lives.” > > **— U.S. National Science Foundation**, *About NSF* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Probing the Unknown by U.S. National Science Foundation|Probing the Unknown by U.S. National Science Foundation]] > NSF explains the purpose of its research partnerships: “These investments focus on sparking new ideas and creative approaches that can accelerate discovery and transform knowledge into tangible benefits to society.” > > **— U.S. National Science Foundation**, *About NSF* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Turning Knowledge into Tangible Benefits by U.S. National Science Foundation|Turning Knowledge into Tangible Benefits by U.S. National Science Foundation]] > NSF states the national standard that governs its work: “NSF is tasked with keeping the U.S. at the leading edge of discovery in science and engineering, to the benefit of all Americans.” > > **— U.S. National Science Foundation**, *About NSF* [[reminders/Scientific Literacy/Keeping America at the Leading Edge by U.S. National Science Foundation|Keeping America at the Leading Edge by U.S. National Science Foundation]] > NOAA states its mission of science, service, and stewardship: “To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean and coasts. To share that knowledge and information with others. To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.” > > **— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration**, *Our Mission, Values and Vision* [[reminders/Conservation/Understanding a Changing Planet by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|Understanding a Changing Planet by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] > NOAA explains the relationship between discovery and public service: “Science provides the foundation and future promise of the service and stewardship elements of NOAA’s mission.” > > **— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration**, *Our Mission, Values and Vision* [[reminders/Conservation/Science as the Foundation of Service by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|Science as the Foundation of Service by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] > NOAA defines service as the movement of scientific knowledge into practical use: “Service is the communication of NOAA’s research, data, information and knowledge for use by the nation’s businesses, communities and people’s daily lives.” > > **— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration**, *Our Mission, Values and Vision* [[reminders/Conservation/Knowledge for Daily Life by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|Knowledge for Daily Life by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] > NOAA defines stewardship as knowledge placed into action: “Stewardship is NOAA’s direct use of its knowledge to protect people and the environment.” > > **— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration**, *Our Mission, Values and Vision* [[reminders/Conservation/Knowledge Used to Protect by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|Knowledge Used to Protect by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] > NOAA explains how an institution remains capable of discovery: “We advance our mission through entrepreneurship, experimentation, creativity, continuous learning and service excellence.” > > **— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration**, *Our Mission, Values and Vision* [[reminders/Conservation/Innovation Through Experimentation by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|Innovation Through Experimentation by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] > Created by Congress in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey states the purpose of its science: “The USGS monitors, analyzes, and predicts current and evolving Earth-system interactions and delivers actionable information at scales and timeframes relevant to decision makers.” > > **— U.S. Geological Survey**, *Who We Are* [[reminders/Conservation/Science for a Changing World by U.S. Geological Survey|Science for a Changing World by U.S. Geological Survey]] > The U.S. Geological Survey states its national scientific vision: “Lead the Nation in 21st-century integrated research, assessments, and prediction of natural resources and processes to meet society’s needs.” > > **— U.S. Geological Survey**, *Who We Are* [[reminders/Conservation/Leading the Nation in Earth-System Knowledge by U.S. Geological Survey|Leading the Nation in Earth-System Knowledge by U.S. Geological Survey]] > The U.S. Geological Survey explains why its disciplines are joined in one institution: “As the science arm of the Department of the Interior, the USGS brings an array of earth, water, biological, and mapping data and expertise to bear in support of decision-making on environmental, resource, and public safety issues.” > > **— U.S. Geological Survey**, *Who We Are* [[reminders/Conservation/Science Brought to Public Decisions by U.S. Geological Survey|Science Brought to Public Decisions by U.S. Geological Survey]] > The National Institutes of Health states the complete movement of its mission, from fundamental knowledge to human consequence: “NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.” > > **— National Institutes of Health**, *About Us* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Knowledge That Lengthens Life by National Institutes of Health|Knowledge That Lengthens Life by National Institutes of Health]] > NIH states what its scientific enterprise is built to accomplish: “NIH works to turn scientific discoveries into better health for all. As the largest public funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the world, NIH is the driving force behind decades of advances that improve health, revolutionize science, and serve society more broadly.” > > **— National Institutes of Health**, *About Us* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Discoveries Become Better Health by National Institutes of Health|Discoveries Become Better Health by National Institutes of Health]] > NIH's All of Us Research Program states the purpose of studying data from one million or more people in the United States: “Our mission is to speed up health research, enabling individualized prevention, treatment, and care for all of us.” > > **— All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health**, *About* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Precision Medicine for All of Us by All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health|Precision Medicine for All of Us by All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health]] > The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences states its mission and its measure of success: “Our mission is to turn research observations into health solutions through translational science. Our vision is more treatments for all people more quickly.” > > **— National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences**, *About NCATS* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Turning Observations into Health Solutions by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences|Turning Observations into Health Solutions by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences]] > NCATS defines the science required to move discoveries into use: “Translational science is the field that generates scientific and operational innovations that overcome longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline.” > > **— National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences**, *About NCATS* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Overcoming the Obstacles Between Discovery and Treatment by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences|Overcoming the Obstacles Between Discovery and Treatment by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences]] > The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences states how its research is meant to arrive in human life: “Our mission is to research how the environment affects biological systems across the lifespan and to translate this knowledge to reduce disease and promote human health.” > > **— National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences**, *Our Mission* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Translating Environmental Knowledge into Health by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences|Translating Environmental Knowledge into Health by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences]] > The NIH Clinical Center states its mission in the lives of the patients it serves: “We provide hope through pioneering clinical research to improve human health.” > > **— NIH Clinical Center**, *Clinical Center Guiding Principles* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Hope Through Pioneering Clinical Research by NIH Clinical Center|Hope Through Pioneering Clinical Research by NIH Clinical Center]] > The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering defines technology development as a way of changing what medicine can know and do: “Our mission is to transform, through technology development, our understanding of disease and its prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.” > > **— National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering**, *About NIBIB* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Technology That Transforms the Understanding of Disease by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering|Technology That Transforms the Understanding of Disease by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering]] > NIBIB states why its engineering mission reaches beyond one institute: “NIBIB’s unique role as a leader in the development of urgently needed enabling technologies benefits all of NIH and the broader biomedical community.” > > **— National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering**, *About NIBIB* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Enabling Technologies for the Biomedical Community by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering|Enabling Technologies for the Biomedical Community by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering]] > The Department of Energy states the national purpose that joins its scientific, economic, energy, and security work: “The overarching mission of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is discovering the solutions to power and secure America’s future.” > > **— U.S. Department of Energy**, *About the Careers* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Powering and Securing America's Future by U.S. Department of Energy|Powering and Securing America's Future by U.S. Department of Energy]] > The Under Secretary for Science states what the Department and its laboratories have become at national scale: “The combination of inspiring missions, broad and deep scientific expertise, unique infrastructure, and national scale resources makes the Department and the 17 United States (U.S.) National Laboratories the greatest platform for scientific discovery and innovation in the physical sciences ever created.” > > **— Darío Gil, U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science**, *Letter to the Community* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/The Greatest Platform for Physical Science Ever Created by Darío Gil|The Greatest Platform for Physical Science Ever Created by Darío Gil]] > “The unyielding, intelligent work undertaken by the Department of Energy and the Labs enables prosperity, peace, and security both at home and abroad.” > > **— Darío Gil, U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science**, *Letter to the Community* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Science That Enables Prosperity, Peace, and Security by Darío Gil|Science That Enables Prosperity, Peace, and Security by Darío Gil]] > Darío Gil states the national goal of the Genesis Mission: “The Genesis Mission will have as a national goal to accelerate the AI and quantum computing revolution and to double the productivity and impact of American science and engineering within a decade (and in half that time across our National Laboratory complex).” > > **— Darío Gil, U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science**, *Letter to the Community* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Doubling the Impact of American Science by Darío Gil|Doubling the Impact of American Science by Darío Gil]] > Darío Gil recalls the institutional problem Vannevar Bush solved after the Second World War: “The nation’s best scientists and engineers were mobilized in unprecedented ways to win the war (with the Manhattan Project as the most successful example), and Bush brilliantly answered the question of how to keep them mobilized in times of peace to ensure the prosperity, security, and health of Americans through scientific progress.” > > **— Darío Gil, U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science**, *Letter to the Community* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Mobilizing Science in Peace by Darío Gil|Mobilizing Science in Peace by Darío Gil]] > NOAA states the public trust attached to federal science: “As a premier science agency of the U.S. government, NOAA commits and adheres to the highest standards of scientific integrity on behalf of our scientists, our data and the American public.” > > **— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration**, *Our Mission, Values and Vision* [[reminders/Conservation/Scientific Integrity on Behalf of the American Public by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|Scientific Integrity on Behalf of the American Public by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] > The U.S. Geological Survey states the breadth of the knowledge it makes available: “The USGS is a primary Federal source of science-based information on ecosystems, land use, energy and mineral resources, natural hazards, water use and availability, and updated maps and images of the Earth’s features available to the public.” > > **— U.S. Geological Survey**, *Who We Are* [[reminders/Conservation/Science-Based Information for the Public by U.S. Geological Survey|Science-Based Information for the Public by U.S. Geological Survey]] > The Department of Energy Office of Science states where its discoveries are meant to arrive: “We work to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States.” > > **— U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science**, *Inflation Reduction Act Invests in U.S. Science Leadership* [[reminders/Scientific Acceleration/Discovery That Advances American Security by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science|Discovery That Advances American Security by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science]] <!-- BEGIN AMERICAN SYSTEM CONNECTIONS --> ## American System Connections [[wiki/National Capability Culture|National Capability Culture]] treats science as working infrastructure of the Republic. [[wiki/The Next 250|The Next 250]] places discovery inside intergenerational stewardship, while [[wiki/Coalition Competence|Coalition Competence]] shows how allied scientific systems enlarge one another. <!-- END AMERICAN SYSTEM CONNECTIONS -->