While the Obama Administration received proper kudos for its early series of science and technology appointments, its actions since have more closely resembled the typical U.S. government pattern of tardiness and inattention provided to science and technology positions in the government that require Presidential appointment (with or without Senate confirmation).
Harold Varmus left the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST) at the beginning of July 2010 when he took his current position as Director of the National Cancer Institute. Only this month has there been an announcement of his replacement (an announcement that escaped the notice of many). Mark Gorenberg will join PCAST in time for its July meeting. He is currently a Managing Director of the software investment firm Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. Hummer Winblad focuses on software companies, and Gorenberg worked for Sun Microsystems prior to joining the company. Gorenberg is also involved with environmental issues, and is the current Chair of the Board of Trustees at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment (the Center needs to update its board list).
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