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Federal Science Chief to Speak on Basic Research Funding
Raymond L. Orbach, director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, will visit Brown University on Friday, March 10, 2006, to see science demonstrations and discuss federal funding for basic research. Gov. Donald L. Carcieri will accompany Orbach during his visit. PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Raymond L. Orbach, director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, will talk to the Brown University community about federal funding for basic science research on Friday, March 10, 2006. The discussion, which will focus on American energy security and economic competitiveness, begins at 2 p.m. in Room 117 of MacMillan Hall, 324 Brook St. The talk is free and open to the public. 
The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, managing programs in energy sciences, materials and chemical science, biological and environmental sciences, and computational science. The office manages 10 world-class laboratories and oversees construction and operation of some of the nation’s most advanced research and development facilities, including particle and nuclear physics accelerators, synchrotron light sources, neutron scattering facilities and supercomputers. About 19,000 researchers use these facilities each year. Orbach, a physicist and former chancellor of the University of California–Riverside, will discuss the American Competitiveness Initiative, a plan put forward by President George W. Bush to increase investment in science and technology. In fiscal year 2007, the initiative commits $5.9 billion to boost research and development, strengthen education and encourage entrepreneurship. During the next 10 years, the initiative commits $50 billion to increase funding for research. Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, a long-time science and technology advocate, will introduce Orbach and give opening remarks. Orbach and Carcieri will also see Brown science at work. At 1 p.m., Vice President for Research Andries van Dam will give an immersive virtual reality demonstration at the Center for Computation and Visualization, 180 George St. At 1:30 p.m., Associate Professor of Chemistry Christoph Rose-Petruck will explain a leading-edge device that takes “snapshots” of atoms in motion. That demonstration will take place in Room 244 of the Geo-Chem Building, 324 Brook St. Brown faculty, staff and students, as well as the public, are invited to Orbach’s talk in MacMillan Hall. Reporters are welcome to attend the talk as well as the science demonstrations. For credentials, call the Office of Media Relations at (401) 863-2476. ###### Media Relations Home | Top of File | e-Subscribe | Brown Home Page | ||||