Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E)

In President Obama's speech yesterday at the National Academy of Sciences, he announced funding for the initiative known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E). Similar to DARPA, it is intended to fund high-risk, high-reward research. Also announced were the members of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, known as PCAST, who are charged with advising the President on various national strategies and public policy issues. Among those appointed to the council is Northwestern University's Chad Mirkin, the Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology. Read the entire transcript here of the President's speech to find out about a few other things on the agenda for science and energy-based reforms. Also check out the original bill for ARPA-E to discover more about the organization's structure and goals.