For Better or for Worse: The Marriage of Science and Government in the United States

by Alfred Mann

Overview

The development of an American science establishment—today an amalgam of scientists, engineers, universities, industrial laboratories, and federal science agencies—began early in the twentieth century when the federal government began to invest in a national scientific infrastructure. Durgaing World War II this investment swelled to colossal proportions. At present, the yearly federal investment in basic science and technology amounts to about thirty-five billion dollars. How did this complex marriage between science and government occur? How will increasing economic pressures affect its future?

In this engaging overview of the science establishment and its relationship with the federal government, renowned physicist Alfred K. Mann details the reasons behind the creation of the four nonmilitary federal science agencies that are responsible for the bulk of this budget and are the principal supporters of scientific research and technology in American universities. Looking into each agency, he elucidates the ways in which decisions were made, whose interests were at stake, and the resulting discoveries, mishaps, and bureaucratic mazes that were constructed in the name of research.

Mann interweaves fascinating stories that grew out of the scientific enterprise:

• the allies' invention during World War II of the proximity fuse and its tremendous battlefield success,

• the first use of blood plasma in World War II field hospitals,

• the invention of radar,

• strategic policies of the Cold War,

• the double helix of DNA,

• space explorations and the space missions,

• modern global positioning systems (GPS),

• satellite surveillance, and

• recent declassification of covert operations.

Charting the origins and operations of a remarkable collaboration, For Better or for Worse encompasses many of the key scientific discoveries of our time and offers a renewed vision of the future direction of the United States science establishment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231117067
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	11/23/2000
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Alfred K. Mann, professor emeritus of high energy and particle physics at the University of Pennsylvania, worked on the Manhattan Project as a pre-doctorate and has first-hand experience with many of the scientists who developed the first atomic bomb. He received the Rossi prize in astrophysics for participating in the discovery of neutrinos in Supernova 1987A. His book Shadow of a Star tells the story of that discovery.

What People are Saying About This

D. Allan Bromley

A very substantial and significant contribution to the literature on American science and technology policy.

— D. Allan Bromley, assistant to the president of the United States for science and technology, 1989-1993

Editorial Reviews

Mann's ability to write about complicated matters in a simple yet intelligent manner... is shown again in For Better or for Worse.

Technology and Culture

A very substantial and significant contribution to the literature on American science and technology policy.

D. Allan Bromley

Beginning early in the twentieth century, the United States government began to construct and support a national scientific infrastructure. A minor expenditure at first, it mushroomed during World War II, and now accounts for roughly $35 billion in the federal budget. Mann (Physics, U. Pennsylvania) follows the path of this marriage between science and government, explaining the reasoning behind the creation of the four, non-military federal science agencies responsible for most of the spending, and he attempts to project and predict how they may fare under increasing economic pressure. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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