Issues in Science and Technology

Issues in Science and Technology is a journal devoted to stimulating awareness and discussion of public policy related to science, engineering, and medicine. The journal was founded in 1984 and is published quarterly in print and on the Web by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the University of Texas at Dallas.

The scope of this publication is quite broad, treating subjects that range from nanotechnology and biotechnology to national defense, social science, climate, and education, among others. The journal publishes articles that “analyze current topics in science, technology, and health policy and recommend actions by government, industry, academia, and individuals to solve pressing problems,” according to its Web site (http://www.issues.org). Its scope encompasses “policy for science (how we nurture the health of the research enterprise) and science for policy (how we use knowledge more effectively to achieve social goals), with emphasis on the latter” (http://www.issues.org). With a print circulation in 2008 of about 8,000, newsstand sales, and an online archive of issues back to 1996, the journal provides a forum targeting researchers, government officials, business leaders, and others concerned with public policy. A recent readership survey showed that respondents worked mostly in universities, medical organizations, and federal agencies.

Each volume contains a mix of feature articles (4,000 to 5,000 words), “Perspectives” (2,000 to 2,500 words), brief news articles (“From [Page 431]the Hill”), an editor's comment, letters to the editor, book reviews, and a special section called “Archives,” which presents a visual subject such as artwork, a photograph, or other display relating broadly to the scope of the journal.

Feature articles are longer, more in-depth pieces that make specific policy recommendations on an issue, whereas the perspectives articles are shorter, perhaps on newer issues, with fewer if any policy recommendations.

Special collections of some of the journal's past articles are available online under the following categories: climate, competitiveness, education, energy, environment, foreign policy, national security, public health, real numbers, transportation, and universities.

The establishment of the journal in 1984 was led by Frank Press, who served as the U.S. president's science adviser and director of the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Carter from 1977 to 1980. He was president of the National Academy of Sciences and chairman of the National Research Council from 1981 to 1993.