Increase Science Literacy — Use R&D Labels On All Products

We Benefit Daily From R&D, Long-term Studies, And Seemingly Outsized Expenditures

The reality is that we must consider residing and engaging beyond Earth. Such activities will not happen in our lifetime, but future generations may depend on the seeds being planted now. Space exploration takes time and resources. It doesn’t happen overnight. The Artemis mission is one of several of those “baby steps” that must be taken.

Here’s a news flash. Similar baby steps in R&D were taken over many years to produce the cell phone in your hand, the blood pressure medicine in your cabinet, and the GPS system getting you to your nephew’s birthday party at the amusement park. I see this all of the time in my profession. These days people just whip out the weather app on their phone. There is very little thought about how that app forecast is made, what it is derived from, and so on. In fact, there are years of research and development on weather models, satellites, radars, and computer models embedded in that little icon that you see. There are numerous National Weather Service and private meteorologists behind the forecasts, warnings, watches, advisories, and outlooks. I promise you this. There is no “weather fairy” in those apps.

“STEM R&D matters, but people often notice the TV rather than what went into making it,” I wrote previously at Forbes.com. “In reality, basic research on electrons, neurons, viruses, and artificial intelligence led to many of the things we enjoy,” I went on to say. When I listened to the radio PSA, it hit me. Perhaps we should use R&D labeling on all products in the same way that ingredient and nutrition labeling is placed on our food products. “What would that accomplish, Dr. Shepherd?”

Many of us have cell phones. However, we never stop to think about all of the science, technology, engineering, and math that took to develop it. We just fire off our posts on social media and snap selfies. In fact, there is quite a bit of STEM R&D in your cell phone including digitization, electromagnetic waves, circuitry, transmission infrastructure, and other basic physics at the atomic level. Could it be instructive to place a label on the phone box with these STEM contributions to illustrate how years of R&D expenditures and effort brought you that phone.

Some of you reading this may board an airplane headed to a vacation spot. Should the plane ticket information include labeling describing the aeronautical research, radar engineering, weather prediction, and physics of lift that allow you to safely reach your destination.

What about those of you taking medication for a heart ailment? There were years of research, clinical trials and other testing that got us from ailment to drug discovery. We don’t see those things. Perhaps we should. What if a label or information leaflet was distributed with the drug at the local pharmacy. It could provide details of the R&D history of the drug and related costs, and how all of that was necessary for your well-being.

Now let’s circle back to the Artemis mission and kitchen table issues that the PSA says are being overlooked. Here are a handful of things that directly translate to our society “here and now.”

Translational And Medical Research

“Most Americans don’t go a week — maybe not even a day — without encountering something that owes at least part of its origins to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),” wrote Linda Brinson at HowStuffWorks.com. “That’s true in the home medicine cabinet, the doctor’s office and the hospital,” she went on to say. Though not exhaustive, Brinson lists the following medical advances as having some connection to NASA and the space program:

• Digital imaging breast biopsy systems
• Transmitters to monitor the fetus
• Laser angioplasty
• Cooling suits
• Voice-controlled wheelchairs
• LED systems for brain cancer surgery
• Molds for artificial legs and arms
• Programmable pacemakers
• Tools supporting cataract surgery

I focus on medical advances because the PSA questioned the value of Artemis while people are still suffering with illnesses.

If you want a list of the technologies and advances from NASA and that space program, do a quick search on NASA benefits to society. You will find all types of things related to cordless tools, blankets, cell phones, eyewear, aviation safety, air and water purification, memory foam, cameras, and so much more.

The Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers

The jobs of the present and future will be strongly anchored in STEM, yet, many of our students at the K-8 grade level are lagging in those topics. The target demographic of the radio station that aired the PSA is my demographic. As an African American scientist, I am very aware of the gaps in STEM and our community. I am also aware of findings that inspiration and mentorship are important. The Artemis pilot was Victor Glover, who happens to be Black. What an inspiration for all kids, but particularly some child in southwest Atlanta that may aspire to be a pilot or engineer one day.

Studies show that missions like Artemis Space inspire students to want to explore STEM careers. They may not ever go into space, but the work of coders, technicians, engineers or scientists come through every day for things like fixing our cars, installing our computers, or ensuring that MRI machine works properly. We cannot be short-sighted when it comes to STEM’s daily impact. Yes, the pretty pictures of the Moon were awesome, but the inspiration is far more valuable.

Economic Development

Numerous governments, companies, and organizations across the United States and the world are involved in missions like Artemis. “NASA prime contractors Aerojet Rocketdyne, Axiom Space, Bechtel, Blue Origin, Boeing, Amentum, Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, Maxar Space Systems, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX currently have more than 2,700 suppliers across 47 states contributing to the lunar spaceport at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Orion, the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Gateway space station, human landing systems, and spacesuits and mobility systems tailored for the Moon,” according to the NASA website. You may not realize it, but a bold or fuel system used in the mission may have been developed by your cousin’s company, Your aunt may have driven a truck that hauled a part from a contractor to the launch system. The economic development of these large missions transcends what you see. The supply chain and human capital are deep.

I get it. People are struggling. I am not sitting on some elitist or scholarly throne. I come from a humble community. Frankly, some of my friends and family may have the same perspective as the radio PSA, and I would not blame them. My scientific and ivory-tower tribe has not properly conveyed the value proposition and return on investment of missions like Artemis. Unfortunately the low hanging fruit in traditional and social media tends to be the “pretty pictures” and “compelling videos.”

Even during my days as a NASA scientist, I used to cringe at videos of astronauts eating floating bananas or twirling around in zero gravity. As a research meteorologist, I also used to push back when people asked me if I made weather forecasts for space shuttle launches. Nope, I was doing high-level research and development on important Earth-observing systems. My point here is that the perception that people have of space programs as wasteful is often self-inflicted. There are many “so-whats” that touch our lives, and kitchen table issues daily. How would people know that if it is lost in translation or frankly, not translated at all?