EVEN before the appointment of a presidential science adviser there are signs of a key policy change. During a television interview, John Podesta, co-chair of the Obama transition team, made it clear that stem cell restrictions are among the Bush-era executive orders that Obama is now reviewing (see 鈥淥bama moves swiftly to repair stem cell damage鈥�).
Such orders do not require congressional approval, so a momentous change for US stem cell researchers could come at the stroke of a pen. This could ramp up the US competition faced by rival teams abroad, not least those who have benefited from the brain drain of disenchanted American talent.
However, there has been little word yet about who in the new government might deal with climate change. Obama promised to introduce a scheme to limit carbon emissions, but it seems improbable that a US team will be in place in time to prepare for next month鈥檚 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
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Given the state of the US economy, it will be no surprise if action comes slower in this arena compared with stem cells. The world can wait a little, so long as the outcome is action and not more hot air.