  Obama vows investment in science  By Paul Rincon Science
reporter, BBC News  President Barack Obama at the NAS (AFP)
President Barack Obama has set the goal of devoting 3% of gross
domestic product (GDP) to US science research.  President Obama
made the announcement during a speech on Monday to the US
National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC.  He also
discussed a US public health emergency over the swine flu virus
outbreak.  President Obama added that it was time for America to
lead again in the area of research and development (R&D).
President Barack Obama  He said the goal represented the largest
commitment to scientific research and innovation in US history.
"I am here today to set this goal: we will devote more than 3%
of our GDP to research and development," said President Obama.
US R&D spend is currently of the order of 2.6%, according to the
most recent recorded figures.  "A half century ago, this nation
made a commitment to lead the world in scientific and
technological innovation," he sai