Obama's need for a science czar

The nation's science community has never been as engaged in a presidential campaign as we have in the past year. Similarly, the geosciences and other science domains are weighing in early and prominently in offering advice and assistance in the transition.

The Christian Science Monitor summarized the reasons for this in an editorial on Thursday. They note that, "Nearly all the great issues facing Obama involve science or technology as part of the solution."

They conclude that, "With Obama receiving so much input from so many sources, the next White House science adviser will best serve as his "options czar." He or she should sift through the blizzard of data and ensure that the president has before him viable choices based on sound science."