Science and Technology

RAND research on science and technology serves a mix of clients, including federal agencies, state, and other government entities, businesses, and foundations. Much of this research is conducted within the Transportation, Space, and Technology program of RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment. View all Science and Technology Documents Available Online or find general information at Reports and Bookstore.

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Creating Unique Health ID Numbers Would Facilitate Improved Health Care Quality and Efficiency — Oct. 20, 2008

Creating a unique patient identification number for every person in the United States would facilitate a reduction in medical errors, simplify the use of electronic medical records, increase overall efficiency and help protect patient privacy.

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Alternative Fossil Fuels Have Economic Potential but Uncertain Environmental Consequences — Oct. 8, 2008

Alternative sources of fossil fuels such as oil sands and coal-to-liquids have significant economic promise, but the environmental consequences must also be considered.

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Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition — Aug. 31, 2008

The Pardee Center was established in 2001 to enhance the overall future quality and condition of human life by aggressively disseminating and applying new methods for long-term policy analysis in a wide variety of policy areas where they are needed most.

October 8, 2008: Alternative Fossil Fuels Have Economic Potential but Uncertain Environmental Consequences

July 9, 2008: U.S. Science is Holding its Own: Despite Cries of Alarm, We Remain the Global Leader in Innovation, By Titus Galama, James Hosek (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

June 24, 2008: Major Progress in Technology Needed for 25 Percent Renewable Energy Use to Be Affordable

June 23, 2008: U.S. Faces New Challenges in a Post-American World, But Can Overcome Obstacles

June 12, 2008: U.S. Still Leads the World in Science and Technology; Nation Benefits From Foreign Scientists, Engineers

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Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospects and Policy Issues

In the early 1980s, industry and government took a hard look at the economics of extracting oil from vast deposits of shale that lie beneath the western United States. Oil prices subsided, and interest waned. With oil prices spiking and global demand showing no signs of abating, reexamining the economics of oil shale makes sense. In this report, the authors describe oil shale resources; suitability, cost, and performance of new technologies; and key policy issues that need to be addressed by government decisionmakers in the near future.

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The Global Technology Revolution 2020, Executive Summary

In 2020, areas of particular importance for technology trends will include biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials technology, and information technology. The authors of this report assessed a sample of 29 countries across the spectrum of scientific advancement (low to high) with respect to their ability to acquire and implement 16 key technology applications.