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Science and Technology

RAND research on science and technology serves a mix of clients, including federal agencies, state, and other government entities, businesses, and foundations. Much of this research is conducted within the Transportation, Space, and Technology program of RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment. View all Science and Technology Documents Available Online or find general information at Reports and Bookstore.

More »Featured Research

Improving the Cost Estimation of Space Systems — Aug. 25, 2008

Why have the costs of acquiring space systems been so high? What are the sources of the problems? To answer these questions, RAND researchers examined the sources of cost growth of Air Force space systems and undertook an extensive study of two space systems.

Full Document

Major Technology Progress Needed for 25 Percent Renewable Energy Use to Be Affordable — Jun. 24, 2008

Dramatic progress in renewable energy technology is needed if the United States desires to produce 25 percent of its electricity and motor vehicle fuel from renewable sources by 2025 without significantly increasing consumer costs.

Full DocumentNews Release

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Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition — Aug. 31, 2008

The Pardee Center was established in 2001 to enhance the overall future quality and condition of human life by aggressively disseminating and applying new methods for long-term policy analysis in a wide variety of policy areas where they are needed most.

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View All »Related News & Commentary

July 9, 2008: U.S. Science is Holding its Own: Despite Cries of Alarm, We Remain the Global Leader in Innovation, By Titus Galama, James Hosek (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

June 24, 2008: Major Progress in Technology Needed for 25 Percent Renewable Energy Use to Be Affordable

June 23, 2008: U.S. Faces New Challenges in a Post-American World, But Can Overcome Obstacles

June 12, 2008: U.S. Still Leads the World in Science and Technology; Nation Benefits From Foreign Scientists, Engineers

December 11, 2007: RAND Study Provides Framework for Passenger-Rail Systems to Cost-Effectively Protect Riders from Terrorist Attacks

View All »Featured Reports

Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospects and Policy Issues In the early 1980s, industry and government took a hard look at the economics of extracting oil from vast deposits of shale that lie beneath the western United States. Oil prices subsided, and interest waned. With oil prices spiking and global demand showing no signs of abating, reexamining the economics of oil shale makes sense. In this report, the authors describe oil shale resources; suitability, cost, and performance of new technologies; and key policy issues that need to be addressed by government decisionmakers in the near future. Full Document

The Global Technology Revolution 2020, Executive Summary In 2020, areas of particular importance for technology trends will include biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials technology, and information technology. The authors of this report assessed a sample of 29 countries across the spectrum of scientific advancement (low to high) with respect to their ability to acquire and implement 16 key technology applications. Full Document