Obama Science Policy: Restoration Science?

“We will restore science to its rightful place” announced Barack Obama in his inaugural speech.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646.stm

The question, of course, is what place was he thinking of? Will it be the “science” of before the pesudo-Lysenkoism of the Bush years? In the immediate context of the speech (see below) the “science” he has in mind seems to be nothing new: science as the well-spring of innovation, new technology and wealth. However, autonomy and increased federal funds do not necessarily run together.

“For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act – not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.”