Reflections on science, technology, and computing — leavened by personal experience


According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), federal funding for research, development, and facilities has declined from 1.23 percent of gross domestic product in fiscal year 1976 to an estimated 0.75 percent in the President’s proposed 2015 budget.

Yesterday, I had the privilege to be at the White House as President Obama announced the Digital Lab for Manufacturing (the Digital Lab), which includes the University of Iowa and a host of national partners.

The Iowa City Press Citizen recently published an opinion piece that was a précis of my recent Iowa City Chamber of Commerce after dinner speech.

SF author Bruce Sterling and I recently had a public conversation about the future. I offered some advice to the students in the audience. 1. Hang out with people not like yourself. 2. Take some risks. 3. Make new and original mistakes.