Obama stresses importance of science

President-elect Obama on Saturday stressed the importance
of science, saying it “holds the key to our survival as a planet and our
security and prosperity as a nation.”

Democrats have often accused the Bush administration of
disregarding science in its decision-making process, saying it instead followed
ideology.

{mosads}“It’s time we once again put science at the top of our
agenda and worked to restore America’s place as the world leader in science and
technology,” Obama said in his weekly radio address.

The president-elect praised leaders “who not only
invested in our scientists, but who respected the integrity of the scientific
process.”

Obama pledged that, as president, he would ensure “that
facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology,” and
vowed to listen “to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s
inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient.”

The president-elect also announced members of his scientific
team, including Harvard professor John Holdren, who will serve as assistant to
the President for Science and Technology and director of the White House Office
of Science and Technology Policy.

Obama named Holdren, a physicist who works on climate and
energy issues, Nobel Prize winner Harold Varmus and Eric Lander to be part of his
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Lastly, the president-elect announced that Jane Lubchenco
would serve as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.

“Working with these leaders, we will seek to draw on the
power of science to both meet our challenges across the globe and revitalize
our economy here at home,” Obama said.