Scientists' Views On Next Moon Moment
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon -- a milestone that launched a generation of scientists and new research and development efforts that had a huge impact on the economy. Now, 40 years later, the Science Coalition asked university researchers from across the country to reflect on that event and share their thoughts about the next frontiers in science and what America must do to ensure that these scientific frontiers are reached.
Here's a sampling of the comments collected:
"Perhaps more than anything, we need to address the scientific challenge of providing more effective, efficient and diverse sources of energy to drive the global economy, its citizens, and its infrastructure." University of Maryland geology professor William McDonough
"Instead of looking for a single innovation to transform transportation, the next great challenge will be a revolutionary and holistic reinvention of vehicles. The next 'moon landing' will be a new science-driven way of approaching automobiles ... that goes beyond slashing mpg or substituting gas with electricity." Dennis Assanis, director of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute
"The 21st century equivalent to putting a man on the moon will be our understanding of the human brain - and in particular, achieving the ability to stimulate the brain to repair itself, including restoring old memories and learning new information after damage and disease. ... That understanding will revolutionize the way we treat devastating neurological injuries and disease." University of Rochester's Elissa Newport
Read more perspectives from 29 scientists here (PDF).
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