Neal Francis Lane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neal Lane
7th Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
In office August 4, 1998 – January 20, 2001
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Kerri-Ann Jones (Acting)
Succeeded by	Rosina Bierbaum (Acting)
10th Director of the National Science Foundation
In office January 20, 1993 – December 13, 1998
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Walter Massey
Succeeded by	Rita Colwell
3rd Chancellor of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
In office July 24, 1984 – May 14, 1986
Preceded by	Donald Schwartz
Succeeded by	Dwayne Nuzum
Personal details
Born	Cornelius Francis Lane (1938-08-22) August 22, 1938 (age 87) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Education	University of Oklahoma (BS, MS, PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Theoretical physics Atomic physics Molecular physics
Institutions	Rice University National Science Foundation University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Thesis	A study of certain inelastic electron-atom collision processes (1965)
Doctoral advisor	Chun Chia Lin
Other academic advisors	Alexander Dalgarno

Cornelius Francis "Neal" Lane was born on August 22, 1938. He is an American physicist and a leading expert in science and technology policy. He works at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He is also a retired professor of physics and astronomy from Rice University.

Neal Lane has held many important leadership roles. He was the head of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He also served as the chief academic officer (provost) at Rice University. During the Clinton Administration, he was the top Science Advisor to the President. In this role, he directed the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Today, Lane often speaks and writes about how science and technology affect public policy.

Neal Lane's Life and Career

Early Years and Education

Neal Lane was born in Oklahoma City in 1938. He went to Southeast High School. He then studied physics at the University of Oklahoma. He earned three degrees there: a bachelor's, a master's, and a Ph.D. His main teacher for his Ph.D. was Chun Chia Lin.

Research and Teaching

After finishing his studies, Lane focused on teaching and research. He did advanced research at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland. He also worked as a visiting researcher at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA).

In 1966, he joined Rice University as a professor. By 1972, he became a full professor of physics and astronomy. His research was in theoretical physics, focusing on how tiny particles like atoms and molecules interact.

In 1979, Lane took a break from Rice University. He became the director of the Physics Division at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Later, in 1984, he became the head (chancellor) of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. This university was growing its science and engineering programs. He returned to Rice University in 1986 as the provost, a role he held until 1993.

Leading the National Science Foundation

From 1993 to 1998, Neal Lane was the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF is a U.S. government agency that supports basic research. Lane made sure the NSF continued to fund important research in science, math, and engineering.

During his time, the NSF created a long-term plan for its work. This plan focused on funding excellent basic research. Experts reviewed all research proposals to ensure high quality. The NSF also updated its supercomputer centers and science and technology centers. It started a program called CAREER to support young researchers. The agency also launched an electronic system for submitting and reviewing research proposals.

Under Lane's leadership, the NSF funded major projects. These included the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). They also supported the first GEMINI telescope. Another big project was the new Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. In 1998, Lane predicted that "nanotechnology" would lead to future breakthroughs. This showed his vision for new science.

Science Advisor to the President

In August 1998, President Bill Clinton chose Neal Lane as his science advisor. This was a very important job. He was an assistant to the president for science and technology. He also directed the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

As science advisor, Lane worked to promote the president's science and technology goals. He strongly supported basic scientific research in the U.S. The OSTP dealt with many important issues during his time. These included stem cell research and food safety. They also worked on missile defense and climate change.

Lane was involved in the U.S. Space Program, including the launch of the International Space Station. He also helped with the Human Genome Project, which mapped human genes. He supported the National Nanotechnology Initiative. He also worked on international cooperation in science and technology.

Current Work and Contributions

Neal Lane served until the end of the Clinton administration in 2001. He then returned to Rice University. He became the university's first "university professor." He also became a senior fellow at Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. He retired from his teaching roles in 2015.

Today, Lane continues his work at the Baker Institute. He is a senior fellow in science and technology policy. He also co-directs the Baker Institute's Science and Technology Policy Program. This program helps scientists and the public talk about important issues. It also suggests how to fund research and environmental policies.

Lane often gives speeches and advises the U.S. Congress. He meets with students, scholars, and leaders in many fields. He also serves on boards that focus on science, technology, and education. He helped lead a study that resulted in a 2014 report. This report was called "Restoring the Foundation – The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream."

Personal Life

Neal Lane is married to Joni Sue (Williams) Lane. They have two children, Christy Saydjari and John Lane. They also have four grandchildren: Allia, Alexander, Matthew, and Jessica.

Awards and Recognition

Neal Lane has received many awards for his work:

• He won the George R. Brown Prize for Superior Teaching at Rice University twice (1973, 1976).
• He received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers (1997).
• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers gave him their President's Award (1999).
• He earned the Public Service Award from the American Chemical Society (1999).
• He received the Support of Science Award from the Council of Science Societies Presidents (2000).
• He was honored with the AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Prize (1999).
• NASA gave him their Distinguished Service Award (2000).
• He received the William D. Carey Lecture Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2001).
• He won the Public Service Award from the American Mathematical Society, American Astronomical Society, and American Physical Society (2001).
• He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Oklahoma (2002).
• He was awarded the K.T. Compton Medal for Leadership in Physics from the American Institute of Physics (2009).
• He received the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences (2009).
• He earned the Association of Rice Alumni Gold Medal (2009).
• He received the Distinguished Friend of Science Award from the Southeastern Universities Research Association (2011).
• He was honored with the Vannevar Bush Award from NSF's National Science Board (2013).
• He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (2016).

Selected Writings

Neal Lane has written many articles and papers on science policy. Here are a few examples:

• "Benjamin Franklin, Civic Scientist" in Physics Today (2003).
• "U.S. Science and Technology – An Uncoordinated System That Seems to Work" in Technology in Society (2008).
• "The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Present at the Creation" with Tom Kalil in Issues in Science and Technology (2005).
• "Science in the seat of power" in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (2008).
• "American Physics, Policy, and Politics: An Uneasy Relationship" in Physical Review Letters (2008).
• "United States Space Policy: Challenges and Opportunities Gone Astray" with George Abbey (2009).
• "The President's Scientist" with Kirstin Matthews in Cell (2009).
• "U.S. Scientific Research and Development 202" with Kirstin R.W. Matthews and Kenneth M. Evans in "Science Progress" (2011).
• "Science Policy Tools: Time for an Update" in Issues in Science and Engineering (2011).
• "Qualitative Metrics in Science Policy: What Can't be Counted Counts" with Rahul Rekhi in Issues in Science and Engineering (2012).
• "What if America had a Plan for Scientific Research?" with Norman Augustine in Inside Sources (2014).
• "Congress's Attacks on Science-Based Rules: Proposed Laws Based on False Premises Could Undermine Science for the Public Interest" with several co-authors in Science (2015).