Articles by Prominent Scientists Featured in 25th Anniver...( DALLAS June 30 -- What can science a...),Health

DALLAS, June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What can science and technology contribute to solving the world's major problems over the next five years? Quite a lot say 15 prominent scientists writing in a special 25th anniversary edition of Issues in Science and Technology. The issue opens with a challenge from President Barack Obama for science to deliver on its potential to enhance prosperity, security, health and quality of life. Experts from across the globe respond.

Vaclav Smil on the need for radical departures in U.S. energy policy. The University of Manitoba professor writes that the dream of a near-term transformation in the energy system is illusory. Indeed, because of the massive size and inertial nature of the U.S. energy infrastructure, change will occur only over decades. The next five years should be long enough to build a broad consensus on the need to phase out fossil fuels and to begin reducing per-capita energy use.

Carl Safina on moving to a new era of fisheries management. The prominent marine scientist writes that ineffectual federal management has resulted in severely depleted fish stocks that continue to decline. Safina calls for a policy focused on restoration under which regulatory and management agencies must move from basing their actions on "how much can we take?" to "how much must we leave?"

Don Detmer on the arrival of electronic health records (EHRs). After almost two decades of advocacy, the health care system is finally poised to take full advantage of information technology to improve quality and efficiency. The University of Virginia professor writes that EHRs will be critical in helping to foster change at the most basic level in how health professionals do their work, while also empowering the public and patients to take a more active role in protecting their health.

Martin Wachs on the d
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