BELLINGHAM, WA -- 09/25/08 --
SPIE is among more than 70 scientific,
academic, and industry organizations signing a petition being delivered to
both Presidential campaigns urging strong, stable, and multidisciplinary
funding for basic research to address energy needs.
"The need for abundant sources of environmentally friendly and affordable
energy far exceeds the capacity of currently available technologies," the
petition asserts. "Our energy security and our economic and national
security depend on overcoming this gap."
To address the nation's current energy crisis as well as future energy
security, the petition says, the next President needs "to work with
Congress to develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive, multi-agency,
basic research strategy."
SPIE is a signer of the petition as a member of ASTRA, the Alliance for
Science & Technology Research in America, and is in full support of its
message, said SPIE CEO Eugene Arthurs.
"Development of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient lighting are
important pieces of the solution to the world's energy crisis," Arthurs
said. "Basic research needs the assurance of stable funding in order to
come to fruition.
"We must realize the potential of this research, which is the key to the
enormous challenge of replacing the fossil-fuel-based global energy
infrastructure. Fossil fuels supplies are limited, but there is plenty left
to wreck our planet. Rather than develop ways of extracting more of these
for their polluting use, we need to support clean, renewable energy
sources."
The petition was released today at a press conference in Washington, DC.
Full text of the petition.
About SPIE
SPIE is an international optics and photonics society founded in 1955
advancing light-based technologies. Serving the interests of its more than
188,000 active constituents representing 138 different countries, SPIE acts
as a catalyst for collaboration among technical disciplines for information
exchange, continuing education, publishing opportunities, patent precedent,
and career and professional growth. As the organizer and sponsor of
approximately 25 major conferences and education programs annually in North
America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, SPIE provides publishing,
speaking, and learning opportunities on emerging technologies. For more
information, visit SPIE.org.
Media Contact
Ms. Amy Nelson
Email Contact
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SPIE
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