Congress must prioritize robust federal science funding, or else research, innovation, livelihoods and so much more could be disrupted in Tennessee.
Lasers are everywhere. Whether for barcode scanners, hair removal treatments or fiber-optic internet connections, these beams of light power our everyday lives. Their history dates back to Einstein's theories in the 1910s and experiments funded by the U.S. government in the 1950s. It took decades for lasers to go from theory to research prototypes to ubiquitous technology.
Many discoveries follow a similar path, including right here in Tennessee.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a federally funded lab and our state's largest research facility, birthed American scientific breakthroughs like the first operating nuclear reactor in 1943 and the world's second-fastest supercomputer in 2022. Today, researchers at ORNL and across Tennessee play a central role in developing AI and quantum computing capabilities that will drive the future of American research, commerce and security.
As federal spending negotiations continue in D.C., it's important to remember that innovation doesn't emerge from a vacuum; it comes from sustained public investment. The federal government should support robust funding for scientific research in Tennessee. Our future as a global hub for innovation is at stake.
At Vandy, federal funding supports research, innovation and a lot more
At Vanderbilt, my federally funded lab tackles projects such as reverse-engineering tissue mechanics and building organ-on-a-chip systems. One of our projects looks at the biomechanics and biochemical signatures of cells around wounds. We use lasers to create small lacerations on the outer layer of fruit flies, studying the ways that surrounding cells react and translating those outcomes into mathematical models of wound healing.
By doing so, we're contributing to a growing body of knowledge that could one day be used to treat diabetic ulcers, traumatic injuries and other ailments. Breakthroughs like these wouldn't just improve patient outcomes -- they would restore quality of life and streamline American healthcare.
Federal science funding supports not just our research, but our workers: graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and young scientists who are the future of our workforce. In 2023 alone, the federal government funded more than 500 doctoral and postdoctoral positions in Tennessee. After graduating, these students join industries vital to our state, including data science, defense, health care and education.
How federal science investment powers TN's economy
The importance of this talent pipeline is apparent in Nashville, which is experiencing a startup boom. New technology and research companies are growing rapidly, employing thousands and contributing to our state's economic momentum. Grants from agencies like the National Science Foundation and NASA bolster this development. From 2019 to 2023, 112 Tennessee companies received small business innovation grants from federal science agencies, totaling over $150 million and cementing our status as an innovation hotspot.
This funding enables Tennessee to compete globally. Europe and China are moving quickly in industries where the United States has traditionally led innovation, like semiconductors and electric vehicle production. Faltering in our commitment to science will cost us both talented students and our national edge.
Why the Senate must prioritize federal science funding
Federal science funding is not charity. It's an investment in America's current and future prosperity, security and health. The next generations of Tennesseans deserve to reap the benefits of our research. Discoveries, however, can take years to emerge. Without steady funding now, decades' worth of future innovation would be in jeopardy.
That's why I urge our Senators to prioritize passing full appropriations with robust federal science funding. While the current short-term Continuing Resolution was essential to ending the government shutdown, we need completed appropriations for American science to thrive.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn has previously shown leadership by supporting bipartisan efforts to strengthen STEM education. I encourage her to continue that commitment and for Sen. Bill Hagerty to join her. The breakthroughs of tomorrow depend on the research happening in Tennessee today.
Shane Hutson is the A.B. Learned Professor of Living State Physics at Vanderbilt University