Lincoln, and the Birth of the National Academy - 299

 We often think of President Lincoln only in the context of the Civil War. We sometimes remember, or too often forget, his address at the Gettysburg Battlefield. In the 150-year remembrance of his 272-word masterpiece, scholars were challenged to write a 272-word letter in Lincoln’s Honor to the best of their talent. Here, the United States Science Communicator, Niel deGrasse Tyson, tells us what Lincoln meant to science:

“One and a half centuries ago, Civil War divided these United States of America. Yet in its wake, we would anneal as one Nation, indivisible. During the bloody year of his Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln chartered the National Academy of Sciences—comprised of fifty distinguished American researchers whose task was then, as now, to advise Congress and the Executive Branch of all ways the frontier of science may contribute to the health, wealth, and security of its residents. As a young nation, just four score and seven years old, we had plucked the engineering fruits of the Industrial Revolution that transformed Europe, but Americans had yet to embrace the meaning of science to society. Now, with more than two thousand members, the National Academy encompasses dozens of fields undreamt of at the time of Lincoln’s charter. Quantum Physics, discovered in the 1920s, now drives nearly one-third of the world’s wealth, forming the basis for our computer revolution in the creation, storage, and retrieval of information. And as we continue to warm our planet, Climatology may be our only hope to save us from ourselves. During the centennial of its charter, President Kennedy addressed the Academy membership, noting, “The range and depth of scientific achievement in this room constitutes the seedbed of our nation’s future.” In this, the twenty-first century, innovations in science and technology form the primary engines of economic growth. While most remember honest Abe for war and peace, and slavery and freedom, the time has come to remember him for setting our Nation on a course of scientifically enlightened governance, without which we all may perish from this Earth.”

The National Academies (NAS) is separate from the United States Government. When it was first chartered in 1863, it had 50 members. From this original membership, as the fields of science mushroomed and specialized, new members were elected from within. Today, there are 6,300 elected members voted in to membership based on their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are advisers to the Nation who serve without pay.

 

The NAS, via the NAS Press, has free digital access to over 160 publications on climate change, how to transition to clean energy, and how to adapt to the rapidly warming Earth. I have referenced these repeatedly and bought hundreds of booklets for school children. 

 

I challenge anyone to find any NAS publication that denies climate change or glosses over the consequences of inaction. Here is the digital address for the National Academies of Science Press: https://nap.nationalacademies.org or search NAS Press.

 

They have produced publications outlining paths to end carbon pollution in line with their duty as advisors to the Nation. Two noteworthy publications are: “Accelerating Decarbonization of the US Energy System” and “Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States.” If you are familiar with the legislation passed by the Democrats (with a smidgin of Republican aid) called the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” and the “Inflation Reduction Act,” you will recognize the inspiration for this legislation…the NAS. 

 

Here is what the NAS has to say about our progress: “Addressing climate change is essential and possible, and it offers a host of benefits - from better public health to new economic opportunities. The United States has a historic opportunity to lead the way in decarbonization by transforming its current energy system to one with net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide. Recent legislation has set the Nation on the path to reach its goal of net zero by 2050 in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. However, even if implemented as designed, current policy will get the United States only part of the way to its net-zero goal.”

 

The NAS scientists are not deniers. They are not doomsayers. They are problem solvers—the problem solvers Abraham Lincoln envisioned in 1863.

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