Four living presidential science advisors, Democrats Drs. John H. Gibbons and Neal F. Lane and Republicans Drs. Edward E. David and John. P. McTague, have written an article called "Making a Critical Connection: Science Advice and the Next President", which highlights the need for the swift appointment of a science advisor whom President-elect Barack Obama trusts. 

The benefits of making the right decisions regarding science and technology policy are enormous—as are the costs of making mistakes. Over the past 60 years, every president has had a science advisor and, since 1976, an office focused on science and technology issues. The science advisor and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) have historically played a central role — usually behind the scenes — in crafting national policies. A robust OSTP, located in the White House complex and closely integrated with the other White House functions such as the Office of Management and Budget, is of great importance.

A key advancement that will need strong policy involvement is nanotechnology and so the article was published by The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, established in April 2005 as a partnership between the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Pew Charitable Trusts, specifically the the Foresight&Governance Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.  The group addresses ethics issues in nanotechnology, synthetic biology and other topics of future technology.

The article calls for a nationally respected leader to be science advisor (not just appointing another former Clinton staffer) and to restore the position to the rank of the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology.

Making a Critical Connection: Science Advice and the Next President