Speaker Introductions:
Stephen Chu, 12th US Secretary of Energy, Nobel Prize winner, and current AAAS President, is introduced.

Accomplishments and Positions:
Dr. Chu has published over 280 papers, holds 15 patents, and was Secretary of Energy from 2009 to 2013. He recruited experts to the Department of Energy, initiated ARPA-E and Energy Innovation Hubs, and assisted in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. As director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he pursued alternative energy technologies. He helped launch BioX at Stanford University, combining physical and biological sciences with medicine and engineering.

Awards and Honors:
Dr. Chu co-received the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics for laser cooling and atom trapping. He is a member of prestigious scientific academies, including the National Academy of Sciences and foreign academies. He holds 32 honorary degrees.

AAAS Involvement:
Dr. Chu became an AAAS member in 1995 and a fellow in 2000. He will assume the role of AAAS Board of Directors Chair at the end of the meeting.

Speech Overview:
Dr. Chu’s speech focuses on envisioning the future and rising above gathering storms. He quotes Yogi Berra’s famous line about making predictions, especially about the future.

Personal Visions for AAAS Improvement:
Dr. Chu shares his personal views on how to enhance the AAAS. He emphasizes that he speaks as an individual, not as AAAS President or representing the board or staff.

Science Policy, Communication, and Membership:
Dr. Chu discusses science policy, science communication to a broader audience, and expanding AAAS membership. He aims to grow the membership tenfold, inspired by physicists’ tendency to think in orders of magnitude.

Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Program:
The AAAS coordinates the Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Program. The program connects young scientists with the federal government for learning and advisory roles. Most fellows are supported by federal agencies, but some are funded by AAAS to work in congressional offices. Dr. Chu aims to raise contributions to endow six congressional fellows, currently supported by the AAAS operating budget.

SciLine:
SciLine is a free service for reporters, funded by philanthropy. Its mission is to provide research-based evidence for news stories.

Science Magazine:
AAAS publishes Science Magazine, which includes daily, weekly, and daily news stories. Some examples include “Mission Impossible” and “How the World Health Organization fights pandemics.”

Coronavirus and Other Viruses:
The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 infected 27% of the world’s population and killed 3-6%. The 2009 H1N1 virus, related to the Spanish flu, killed an estimated 150,000 to 600,000 people. An Asian avian flu, H5N1, has a 60% fatality rate in humans, though transmission is rare.

Science Communication and Fun:
Science can be fun and engaging for the general public. A study showed that humans are not very good at interpreting cat facial expressions, but veterinarians and animal experts are better at it. Bringing the fun of science to a wider audience is a goal.

AAAS Membership:
AAAS has about 100,000 paid members and a total membership of over 120,000. Many young scientists do not join AAAS because they get Science Magazine for free through their institutions.

Spotify Membership Model:
A Spotify membership model is being considered, where members would pay $3 per month to support AAAS. Members would receive a lecture copy of the front end section of Science Magazine and potentially a new section aimed at a more lay audience.

Envisioning the Future:
Steven Chu emphasizes the importance of learning from history to avoid repeating past mistakes. He cites the example of Sir William Crookes’ warning about the impending fertilizer shortage in the late 19th century.

The Nobel Prizes for the Haber-Bosch Process and Norman Borlaug’s Work:
The Haber-Bosch process, developed by Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, revolutionized fertilizer production and enabled the world to feed itself. Norman Borlaug’s breeding of disease-resistant dwarf wheat strains significantly increased agricultural productivity.

Science’s Success in Meeting Past Challenges:
Science has successfully addressed major challenges throughout history, such as preventing starvation and increasing agricultural productivity.

Current Challenges:
Climate change and the spread of misinformation through the internet are among the significant challenges facing society today.

Climate Change:
Chu confirms the reality of climate change, including melting glaciers and rising sea levels.

Historical Sea Levels:
During the last warm period, roughly 125,000 years ago, sea levels were six to nine meters higher than they are today. Recent measurements suggest that most of this sea-level rise could occur in less than 250 years, leading to significant challenges.

Climate Refugees:
Water shortages, droughts, heat waves, forest fires, and crop failures are increasing due to climate change. These factors could lead to large-scale displacement of people, creating climate refugees. The potential influx of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of climate refugees would have significant social and political implications.

Negative Emissions:
Limiting global warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius requires negative emissions by 2080, meaning we must remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than we emit. Achieving negative emissions will be extremely challenging and requires significant technological and policy advancements.

Earthrise and the Importance of Earth:
The famous Earthrise photograph taken during the Apollo 8 mission highlights the beauty and uniqueness of our planet. Earth is the only known planet in our solar system that can sustain life, and it is crucial that we protect and preserve it.

Exoplanets and the Challenges of Space Travel:
There are many exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, that may be habitable. However, traveling to these planets is extremely difficult and time-consuming, even with advanced propulsion systems. It would take approximately 45 million years to reach a potentially habitable planet in our galaxy, and landing safely would be virtually impossible.

Cumulative Emissions and the 2,900 Gigaton Limit:
The UN goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius requires us to stay below 2,900 gigatons of cumulative carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere remains there for thousands of years, so the cumulative emissions over time are crucial in determining the long-term impact on climate change.

Technology Advancements:
The cost of EV batteries has significantly decreased, making them more affordable. Research is underway to develop batteries with twice the energy density of current batteries. Projections indicate a rise in EV sales, with 55% of light-duty vehicles expected to be EVs by 2040.

Lithium Abundance:
A new study suggests that lithium can be extracted from seawater in a practical manner. This discovery expands the lithium reservoirs by approximately 10,000 fold.

Solar Energy Potential:
Solar energy costs are anticipated to decrease further, making it more accessible. The introduction of affordable solar energy in impoverished regions could provide irrigation, water purification, and transportation options.

Business Model for Sustainable Transportation:
A new business model is required to make electric two and three-wheelers more affordable and reliable. The goal is to bootstrap past petroleum-based transportation, similar to the success of cell phones.

Clean Electricity Predictions:
Clean electricity costs have the potential to drop below 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Oil companies, including Royal Dutch Shell, project that renewable energy will reach this price point by 2030-2040. This development opens up the possibility of using electrochemistry to produce carbon-free hydrogen and other clean energy forms.

Agriculture and Geoengineering:
Over half of greenhouse gas emissions originate from agriculture, land use, and forestry, with a significant portion coming from methane and N2O emissions. Agriculture has been heavily engineered, with most habitable land used for farming and grazing. Livestock, such as pigs and cattle, have been optimized for rapid growth and short lifespans.

Mammal Mass and Engineering:
96% of mammal mass on Earth consists of humans and the animals we consume. Domestic animals have been significantly altered from their wild counterparts.

Emissions and Meat Alternatives:
China and the United States are the leading emitters of greenhouse gases, with beef and dairy cattle contributing a substantial amount. Plant-based meat alternatives are emerging as a promising solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

PivotBio and Nitrogen-Based Fertilizer:
PivotBio, a startup company, has developed a technology where corn microbes interact with corn plants to produce nitrogen-based fertilizer. This reduces the need for energy-intensive ammonia production and N2O runoff, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and algae blooms.

Population Control and Economic Prosperity:
Sustainable population growth is essential for a sustainable world, as continuous population increase is unsustainable. Economic prosperity and competitiveness rely on a younger workforce supporting an aging population.

Fertility Rates and Economic Development:
Fertility rates have declined in many countries, including India, Mexico, and Germany, as economic prosperity increases. Education, lighting at night, and other factors may contribute to this decline.

Measuring Wealth Beyond GDP:
GDP is an inadequate measure of wealth, as it emphasizes production and consumption of goods. Wealth should be redefined to include quality of health, education, stress levels, and connections with family and friends.

Immigration and Scientific Excellence:
The United States, a country of immigrants, has benefited immensely from the contributions of immigrants in scientific and technological fields.

Immigrant Contributions to American Science:
Immigrants have played a significant role in the advancement of science in the United States. 143 immigrants have won Nobel Prizes in the US, comprising 3-4% of all laureates. If second-generation immigrants are included, the percentage likely exceeds 50%. All physics Nobel laureates born in China came to the US, earned PhDs, and won their Nobel Prizes there.

Immigrant Contributions to National Defense:
Immigrants played a crucial role in the Manhattan Project, including notable scientists like Enrico Fermi, James Frank, Leo Szilard, and Eugene Wigner.

Immigrant Contributions to Business:
Immigrants or their children founded or co-founded 45% of the top 100 Fortune 500 companies. Examples include Intel, Google, Amazon, Tesla, Yahoo, and NVIDIA.

International Scientific Collaboration:
As of 2017, foreign students represented 35% of graduate students in science, health, and engineering fields in the US. In the physical sciences, over 30% of master’s students and over 40% of PhD students are foreign. China alone accounts for 34% of these foreign students.

National Security Decision Directive 189 (NSDD 189):
NSDD 189, issued in 1985 and reaffirmed in 2001 and 2010, defines fundamental research. Fundamental research includes basic and applied research in science and engineering, the results of which are typically published and shared within the scientific community. It distinguishes fundamental research from proprietary research, industrial development, and product utilization, which are often restricted for proprietary or national security reasons.

United States Policy on Scientific Research and Collaboration:
US policy has been to keep the products of fundamental research unrestricted and to control information only when necessary for national security through classification. However, this directive is being debated, raising concerns among scientists and policymakers.

Chinese Government’s Focus on Science and Technology:
China’s Five-Year Plans prioritize the development of advanced technologies in various fields, including energy, biotechnology, materials science, and information technology. The China Talents Program seeks to recruit foreign talent to acquire advanced technology without incurring research costs.

Restrictions on Collaboration and Funding:
The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are implementing restrictions on collaboration and funding for researchers with foreign ties. DOE employees and researchers receiving DOE grants are prohibited from working for foreign entities simultaneously. NIH requires researchers to declare foreign support and prior approval for collaborations with foreign scientists, even in countries like Germany.

Historical Context:
Steven Chu compares the current situation to the Sputnik moment in 1957, which led to increased emphasis on science education and research in the US. He emphasizes the importance of innovation and technology leadership and warns that America’s position in these areas is at risk.

Concerns about US Competitiveness:
China’s rapid rise in technological innovation and its focus on strategic industries pose a challenge to US competitiveness. China’s universities are among the leading suppliers of PhD graduates in the US, and the Chinese government prioritizes scientific and technological innovation as a driver of economic growth.

Setting the Stage:
Steven Chu emphasized the importance of maintaining America’s innovation leadership in his speech. He highlighted the opportunity to seize innovation while acknowledging the potential benefits of cooperation with countries like China and India. Chu predicted the massive infrastructure growth in China and India, presenting them as markets and innovation laboratories.

China’s Rise and the Response:
Chu expressed concern about China’s ambitious five-year plan, which resembles the U.S. goals during his tenure as Secretary of Energy. He presented data showing that China has surpassed the U.S. in research and development (RD) support. Chu advocated for increased investments in science, technology, and STEM education, emphasizing international collaboration rather than isolationist policies.

Eisenhower’s Vision and the Role of Scientists:
Chu quoted Eisenhower’s speech, highlighting the significance of science in both defense and peaceful pursuits. He emphasized the aspiration for scientists to focus on human happiness and fulfillment rather than destruction. A current postdoc’s column was cited, discussing the conflicted feelings among scientists about political involvement and the March on Science.

The Importance of Openness and Collaboration:
Chu stressed the importance of an open environment for creativity and scientific progress. He emphasized the value of free speech, information flow, and open questioning of political leaders. Observation and experiments were presented as the ultimate arbiters of truth in science. The lack of access to Google search in China was highlighted as a hindrance to scientific effectiveness.

Addressing Chinese Theft:
Chu mentioned a meeting between President Obama and Xi Jinping in September 2015.

New Cold War and Industrial Espionage:
Steven Chu, former Secretary of Energy, observed an increase in industrial espionage, leading him to declare it a new Cold War. In September 2015, the US and China agreed not to use national cyber tools for economic espionage, excluding national security information. President Trump canceled this agreement, resulting in increased industrial espionage from China.

Addressing the Issue:
Acknowledging real issues, including attempts to obtain information before publication, is crucial. Faculty members receiving significant support from institutions should declare and disclose connections. Contracts that ask faculty members not to disclose to their home institutions should be banned, as is the case with NIH. Faculty members have a responsibility to teach scientific ethics to students, emphasizing reproducibility and transparency in research.

Rebuilding Trust Across America:
Retreating into isolated bubbles and building walls between countries hinders trust-building. Referencing Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Fences,” Chu highlights the irony of the line “good fences make good neighbors.” Frost’s intention was to convey that boundaries alienate people, not promote harmony.

Building Trust:
Steven Chu emphasizes the significance of personal trust and contact in driving change and achieving goals. He shares a personal story of how he, along with colleagues, persuaded President George Bush to support the “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” program.

Key Players and Interactions:
Chu sought the support of influential individuals, including Condi Rice, Sam Bodman, and Peter O’Donnell, to advocate for the program. He faced initial resistance from the President but persisted in building relationships and advocating for the program’s importance.

Turning Point:
Peter O’Donnell, a friend of President Bush, agreed to present the program to Don Evans, the Secretary of Commerce, who was a close friend of the President. Evans convinced the First Lady of the program’s value, who then persuaded President Bush to include it in his State of the Union address and budget.

Success through Personal Connections:
Chu highlights the crucial role of personal trust and contact in securing the President’s support for the program. He emphasizes that it was not just the merits of the program but the personal connections and advocacy that ultimately led to its success.

Mr. Rogers on Building Trust:
Chu concludes his presentation by sharing a clip of Mr. Rogers discussing the importance of building trust and understanding. He draws a parallel between Mr. Rogers’ message and the need for personal trust and contact in driving positive change.

Stage Setting:
Mr. Rogers faced criticism for his approach of providing love and acceptance to young people, as some believed that children also need tough love.

Public Television’s Role:
Public television takes pride in presenting valuable programming like Mr. Rogers’ show, emphasizing the importance of trust and care for children.

Funding Challenges:
Children’s programs face funding constraints, as illustrated by the limited budget of $6,000 for a half-hour show, which is insufficient to produce even two minutes of animated content.

Content and Approach:
The program focuses on understanding children’s inner needs and emotions, addressing everyday situations such as getting a haircut or dealing with sibling rivalry, rather than resorting to violence or bombardment.

Scheduling and Accessibility:
The show is scheduled at different times throughout the day to reach a wider audience, including noontime and evening slots.

Request for Program Review:
Senator Pastore expresses interest in reviewing the program to gain a better understanding of its content and approach.

The Power of Public Television:
Fred Rogers, the host of the children’s television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, expressed his dedication to providing an expression of care to each child, recognizing their uniqueness and fostering their self-esteem. He aimed to make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, believing that this would contribute significantly to mental health.

A Personal Approach to Children’s Programming:
Rogers was deeply involved in the creation of his program, hosting, performing all the puppets, writing the music, and scripting the episodes. He emphasized the importance of personal communication with small groups of children, using puppets to facilitate intimate conversations.

Fred Rogers’ Song about Managing Anger:
Rogers shared the lyrics of a song he wrote about managing anger, which originated from a child’s question. The song encourages children to express their anger in constructive ways, such as punching a bag, playing tag, or pounding clay. It emphasizes the importance of self-control and the ability to stop negative behaviors and engage in positive alternatives.

The Feeling of Control and Personal Growth:
Rogers emphasized the importance of children feeling in control of their emotions and actions, knowing that they can make positive choices. He expressed his belief in the potential of all children to grow and develop into capable and responsible adults.

AAAS’s Role in Mending Political Divides:
Steven Chu, former Secretary of Energy and CEO of AAAS, expressed his intention to help mend the fences between Republicans and Democrats. He emphasized the need for quiet conversations and small group meetings to rebuild trust and promote understanding. Chu recognized that there are good people on both sides of the political aisle and pledged to work towards bridging the gap.