Congress moves to establish Science Laureates

An official US Science Laureate, styled after the Poet Laureate in the Library of Congress, would be created under bipartisan legislation introduced in both chambers of Congress earlier this month.

The proposed science laureate—to be appointed by the president from nominees recommended by the National Academy of Sciences to serve for a term of one to two years—would be a nationally renowned expert in his or her field who would travel around the country to inspire future scientists.

“I am happy to be an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation that for the first time creates a national spokesman for science,” said Lamar Smith, a Republican representative from Texas who leads the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.