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Followup.  It's where we learn the most.  Science Debate 2008 questioned the Presidential election candidates in 2008 about science and had a hard time getting candidates to include science in their policies and platforms. 

Why?  One reason is the "Dan Quail Effect" -- meaning that if you goof with an answer, such as "trees cause pollution"...you never live it down.   What was found in the political arena that when urged to respond, the candidates finally did -- but only on their websites.  They would not discuss these topics in person on public media!  Hmmm...

But with science playing an increasingly large role in our lives and economic endeavors, it's important to include scientific topics in our conversations and decision making.

Here are the 14 questions that Science Debate 2008 asked the candidates.  Maybe we should answer these questions ourselves...and have our companies and organizations converse about these important issues.

1. Innovation. Science and technology have been responsible for half of the growth of the American economy since WWII. But several recent reports question America's continued leadership in these vital areas. What policies will you support to ensure that America remains the world leader in innovation?

2. Climate Change.  The Earth's climate is changing and there is concern about the potentially adverse effects of these changes on life on the planet. What is your position on the following measures that have been proposed to address global climate change--a cap-and-trade system, a carbon tax, increased fuel-economy standards, or research?  Are there other policies you would support?

3. Energy.  Many policymakers and scientists say energy security and sustainability are major problems facing the United States this century. What policies would you support to meet demand for energy while ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable future?

4. Education.  A comparison of 15-year-olds in 30 wealthy nations found that average science scores among U.S. students ranked 17th, while average U.S. math scores ranked 24th.  What role do you think the federal government should play in preparing K-12 students for the science and technology driven 21st Century?

5. National Security.  Science and technology are at the core of national security like never before.  What is your view of how science and technology can best be used to ensure national security and where should we put our focus?

6. Pandemics and Biosecurity. Some estimates suggest that if H5N1 Avian Flu becomes a pandemic it could kill more than 300 million people. In an era of constant and rapid international travel, what steps should the United States take to protect our population from global pandemics or deliberate biological attacks?

7. Genetics research.  The field of genetics has the potential to improve human health and nutrition, but many people are concerned about the effects of genetic modification both in humans and in agriculture. What is the right policy balance between the benefits of genetic advances and their potential risks?

8. Stem cells.  Stem cell research advocates say it may successfully lead to treatments for many chronic diseases and injuries, saving lives, but opponents argue that using embryos as a source for stem cells destroys human life.  What is your position on government regulation and funding of stem cell research?

9. Ocean Health.  Scientists estimate that some 75 percent of the world's fisheries are in serious decline and habitats around the world like coral reefs are seriously threatened. What steps, if any, should the United States take during your presidency to protect ocean health?

10. Water. Thirty-nine states expect some level of water shortage over the next decade, and scientific studies suggest that a majority of our water resources are at risk.  What policies would you support to meet demand for water resources?

11. Space.  The study of Earth from space can yield important information about climate change; focus on the cosmos can advance our understanding of the universe; and manned space travel can help us inspire new generations of youth to go into science.  Can we afford all of them?  How would you prioritize space in your administration?

12. Scientific Integrity. Many government scientists report political interference in their job.  Is it acceptable for elected officials to hold back or alter scientific reports if they conflict with their own views, and how will you balance scientific information with politics and personal beliefs in your decision-making?

13. Research. For many years, Congress has recognized the importance of science and engineering research to realizing our national goals.  Given that the next Congress will likely face spending constraints, what priority would you give to investment in basic research in upcoming budgets?

14. Health.  Americans are increasingly concerned with the cost, quality and availability of health care.  How do you see science, research and technology contributing to improved health and quality of life?

Read the Presidential Candidates' answers on ScienceDebate2008.com

A new leadership group is poised to steer Silicon Valley into a "green-tech revolution" that could keep the valley from being displaced by other regions around the world.

Energy is the only field offering the same range of opportunities as information technology, say regional leaders.

The "Greenprint Project" goal is to develop a new, 21st-century energy system that would displace the oil-dependent economy and create a second Industrial Revolution that matches the impact of the massive social and economic shift of the mid-1800s.

Chris DiGiorgio of Accenture, Inc. and San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, unveiled the Greenprint Project, described as a blueprint initiative to turn global climate change into a thriving local industry. The plan seeks ways to build a new infrastructure from the ground up.

The Bay Area initiative would

• attract or train talent to meet needs of the new industry
• retrain workers from industries that are contracting
• invent new energy technologies to replace the oil-dependent economy
• build a support system for improved housing, health care, education and ancillary services that will keep people coming to or staying in the Bay Area

Applied Materials is providing a $300,000 donation over the next two years to fund a "director of climate prosperity" position for the Greenprint project.

Russell Hancock, president and CEO of Joint Venture, which is the initiative coordinator, sounded a warning that the national economic woes have begun to impact the valley, which had been relatively insulated from the worst effects. More bad economic news should be expected throughout the year as companies continue to contract.

Implementing a regional infrastructure that includes building a network of charging stations and retrofitting the 90% of existing homes and offices with energy-efficient technologies -- will allow the new energy products to be applied at home and position the suppliers for broader market growth. Venture capital investment in clean technology in Silicon Valley increased 94 percent in 2008 to boost new companies and new industry sectors.

But investment isn't limited to new companies. Firms such as Cypress Semiconductor, Applied Materials and PG&E are investing in the growing solar and smart-metering and plug-in markets.

Communities are entering the green regional initiative, as well. San Jose's "green vision" aims to show the world how energy efficiency and the new clean technologies can stimulate the economy and bring financial returns. Within 15 years, San Jose plans to create 25,000 clean-tech jobs and reduce per capita energy use by 50%. The city wants to build or retrofit 50 million square feet of green buildings and ensure that 100% of its public fleet will run on alternative fuels. All of San Jose's electrical power is expected to come from clean renewable resources

The regional collaboration hopes to encompass business, government, academia, labor and community organizations. The green economy isn't a shoo-in for American leadership in the global marketplace.

Fareed Zakaria, international editor at Newsweek, said Silicon Valley must bolster its social and support network if it hopes to remain a global player. Zakaria said everywhere he has gone in the world -- in China, Korea and Singapore -- he saw America slipping from having the biggest or best, from Ferris wheels and shopping malls to gambling centers. To stay ahead on the new global racetrack, Silicon Valley will have to get away from the prevailing belief that has swayed the country since 1979: that America has a unique place in the global economy.

Silicon Valley must be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the federal stimulus package and other energy policies by improving a flagging social network exhibited by career opportunities and home ownership. "Home ownership is elusive for many and has squeezed the middle class into an "hour-glass" demographic of the rich and the poor, with only a small percentage in the middle. Only 29% of residents can afford a median-priced home in Silicon Valley, compared with 45% statewide, Hancock said.

Community infrastructure attracts workers to an area -- affordable housing, good education, adult-worker retraining and affordable health care. The best and brightest will flock to whichever countries offers a better way of life.

To be successful, Silicon Valley can't invent the infrastructure in a vacuum -- it will take large infusions of cash and policy support from a well-managed government to achieve dominance in the new world order, Zakaria warned.

"Imagine 100 years from now. Imagine the irony that would strike (analysts). We've gone around telling people to 'open yourselves up ... to the American way of life.' America has managed to fulfill its great historical mission. It globalized the world; it just forgot to globalize itself," he said.

A carbon-free economy refers to the amount of power generated from high-carbon / or petroleum sources.

Generation of energy and use of carbon fuels in concentrated in coal, petroleum and natural gas. Each carbon source carries a different amount of carbon impact. Weather as well as production capabilites and changes affect the level of carbon-intensive energy generation. Alternative energy is the recommended solution for a carbon economy. Those alternative energies are renewables: solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, etc.

California had a carbon peak in 2004 due primarily to the low snowpack that year. Because of the limited capacity for hydroelectric generation, more power was generated by natural gas or coal plants.

At the end of 2005, a coal plant located in Nevada and serving Southern California was shut down, and replacement power came from an in-state natural gas plant.

California's Carbon Economy continues a steady downward trend in the direction of a carbon- free economy. The downward trend could mean either that the State's economy is growing at a faster rate than GHG emissions or that emissions are decreasing at a faster rate than the economy is growing.

Over the long term and on a per-capita basis, California has made significant progress in delinking economic growth from GHG emissions. While GDP per capita has increased by 28% in 16 years, gross emissions per capita are 10% lower than in 1990.

Knowing how the carbon free economy will affect green careers and green jobs in California is part of a good career planning strategy. We suggest you read the annual "CALIFORNIA GREEN INNOVATION INDEX" (2009) to keep pace with green career data that will help you develop appropriate job skills and job search strategies to keep pace with the growing green economic shifts.

The Index provides insight on a California culture that includes three decades of ambitious state environmental and energy policies, putting California on a path to energy independence and one of the lowest per capita carbon footprints in the nation, all the while growing one of the most vigorous economies in the world.

California is at the forefront of green innovation investment and jobs. New data presented in the 2009 California Green Innovation Index shows that while total jobs increased by just ONE PERCENT statewide, green jobs have increased by TEN PERCENT since 2005.

Clean technology investment in California nearly doubled in 2008, reaching $3.3 billion. California is a national leader in solar, wind and battery patents. Still, more needs to be done in terms of both creation and adoption of new clean technology products and services to give California the leading edge in what is fast becoming a multibillion-dollar global clean technology market.

The California Green Innovation Index tracks California's effort to grow the economy while dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions as mandated by the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32).

Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) was signed into California law in 2006, mandating the first ever statewide cap on global warming pollution.  AB 32 has put California at the forefront of the fight against global warming by requiring the state to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. On December 11, 2008, the agency charged with the
implementation of AB 32, California Air Resources Board, adopted the Scoping Plan that lays out the actions California must take to meet the GHG emissions reduction targets.

Research included in this 2009 Green Innovation Index provides further evidence of the powerful economic stimulus clean energy policy can provide.

California's energy productivity, that is, the amount of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) produced per unit of energy, is 68% more productive than the rest of the nation.

Energy efficiency policies forged by California over the last 35 years have saved consumers over $56 billion, creating 1.5 million full-time jobs and $45 billion in payroll.

CALIFORNIA GREEN INNOVATION INDEX (2009)
The California Green Innovation Index provides insight on a California culture that includes three decades of ambitious state environmental and energy policies, putting California on a path to energy independence and one of the lowest per capita carbon footprints in the nation, all the while growing one of the most vigorous economies in the world. Download a copy of the report at Collaborative Economics.

Collaborative Economics, Inc.
785 Castro Street, Suite A
Mountain View, CA 94041
650.404.8120
www.coecon.com

What does a "greener" project manager bring to their job?

Answer:  a greener mix of knowledge, skills and market relationships.

Green Project Management Knowledge

Every project starts with a plan that meets a company's needs.  Green "needs" include compliance guidelines, market appeal and green operations for savings and environmental benefits.

Compliance reduces risks from governmental fines and fees as well as on-the-ground environmental damage that affects your employees' overall well-being and conservation of natural resources such as water, air quality, and increasingly scarce natural materials.

Market appeal is a must!  If a project manager keeps the customer's interests at the heart of choices such as cost control, non-toxic materials, and a take back program -- the market for greener, healthier, more cost effective operations will reward your reputation and your bottom line sales.

Green operations  provide diverse benefits to a company.  A healthy, green workplace provides productivity with proper lighting, fresh air free of toxins, proper ventilation and respect for employee and client well being.   Greening the facilities also involves reducing energy use to save money, conserve water to save money, reduce use of raw materials which saves money, and maximize use of natural systems to reduce expensive equipment -- for example, natural light vs. electric lighting, or well functioning windows for ventilation vs. a large HVAC system.  

Green Project Management Skills
Knowing HOW to implement those potential beneifts is a large part of what the project manage expected to deliver.  Here are some project management skills that are effective and highly respectful of sustainable methodologies:

• Measurement  of key metrics
• Monitor progress and graph it for good communications
• Identify key equipment and supply sources
• Train team to adhere to compliance and market driven goals
• Emphasize most important processes and remove excesses
• Measure effectiveness
• Support creativity by team members

Green Project Management Market Relationships

Knowing WHO to put on your team -- both internally and externally -- is critical in our globalized, outsourced world.  More often than not, project managers are part of a mixed team of staff and contractors. 

• Knowing which suppliers are GREEN is a bonus. 
• Knowing how to put GREEN specifications into RFPs sets the stage for success.
• Knowing how to orient vendors to GREEN SUPPLY CHAIN processes pays off many times over.
• Supporting innovators in renewable energy, energy efficiency and water conservation benefits you with adaptive solutions and a competitive edge with early market advantages.

Businesses thrive with good networking -- connecting productively with key resources that are the best match for your company's strategy.  Creating a green supply chain contact list is as good as gold in the bank for a green project manager!   Before you can implement green solutions you need to source the strategies and build a positive working relationship with your partnering supply chain members.

GREEN project management is about creating a web of knowledge about effective use of  resources, sources of quality green goods and services , and the proper use of those resources on the job. 

Being able to measure and communicate sustainable results is part of your career development process -- always in need of polishing and growing!  

The GreenBiz Executive Network has been developed to provide successful green executives and professionals with guidance and insight for better decision making. It's a combination of peer-to-peer networking and research tools, backed by the depth of GreenBiz.com and an experienced team of researchers and facilitators.

Membership in the GreenBiz Executive Network provides you with the following:

• Focused and timely research, integrating leading practices from members along with other stakeholder inputs
• Library of how-tos, best practices, and industry reports
• Members-only events held regularly, both in-person, and via remote conferencing
• Access to experienced researchers

http://www.greenbizintelligence.com/

What kind of people do traditional environmental firms and agencies need? The answer comes from The Environmental Careers Organization of Canada, which reports that the "top ten green jobs" up north are:

• Environmental engineer
• Environmental technologist
• Conservation biologist
• Geographic Information System (GIS) analyst
• Air-quality specialists
• Environmental communication officers
• Stewardship coordinator
• Environmental specialist
• Research coordinator
• Environmental coordinator

Read more at