Download Business, Science and Political Leaders Mark the 50th Anniversary

TAPPING AMERICA’S POTENTIAL Business, Science and Political Leaders Mark the 50th Anniversary of the Launch of Sputnik October 1, 2007 CONTACT: Kirk Monroe Business Roundtable (202) 496-­‐3269 Michael Safianik The Atlantic Council of the United States (202) 778-­‐4945 Patricia Charles Sputnik Mania (440) 506-­‐9564 Panelists debate how to tackle today's challenges to U.S. competitiveness in the global economy Washington D.C. -­‐ The Atlantic Council of the United States and Business Roundtable co-­‐hosted "The Sputnik Moment: Lessons for 21st Century Global Challenges," an event reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, a moment that shocked the country into an unparalleled investment in science, technology and education. A panel of distinguished historians, astronauts and business leaders debated lessons learned from the "Sputnik moment," its implications on U.S. and foreign policy and future shocks to U.S. competitiveness. This event included a panel featuring a discussion with Sergei N. Khrushchev, son of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and lecturer on Soviet and Russian economic and political reforms; Roger D. Launius, chair of the Division of Space History at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum and former chief historian of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Barbara Morgan, NASA's first educator astronaut and mission specialist for Endeavour's STS-­‐118 space flight in August 2007; Thomas P. Stafford, former NASA astronaut and co-­‐leader of the Apollo-­‐Soyuz flight; and Jay Walker, chairman of Walker Digital, LLC, founder of Priceline.com, executive producer of Sputnik Mania and owner of a real Sputnik. "The 1957 Sputnik launch was a call to action for U.S. science, education and global competitiveness. Fifty years later, we face an array of Sputnik-­‐like challenges that will test us again -­‐ but without a Soviet satellite to awaken us," said Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of The Atlantic Council, who moderated the panel. "Business Roundtable CEOs know that U.S. leadership in science and technology is essential to economic growth, national security and a productive future for our nation," said John J. Castellani, president of Business Roundtable, in his opening remarks. "Sputnik triggered a movement for America to maintain its competitive edge in these areas. Business leaders recognize the value science, technology, engineering and math bring to the global economy and they are investing heavily in education, rather than waiting for another Sputnik moment to galvanize the country." The event also featured a premiere screening of the highly acclaimed Sputnik Mania, a soon-­‐to-­‐be-­‐released film that tells the gripping story of America's growing fear and panic following the launch of Sputnik. Veteran documentary filmmaker, David Hoffman, held a Q&A session immediately after the screening. "In Sputnik Mania, I wanted younger people to experience that moment -­‐ the excitement and awe we felt -­‐ and then see just how quickly, for our parents especially, that all turned to fear," said Mr. Hoffman, Sputnik Mania's filmmaker. "Yet we lived with it and learned by it and what we did as a result provides a valuable lens for reflecting on where we stand today." # # # About the Business Roundtable Business Roundtable (www.businessroundtable.org) is an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with $4.5 trillion in annual revenues and more than 10 million employees. Member companies comprise nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock markets and represent over 40 percent of all corporate income taxes paid. Collectively, they returned $112 billion in dividends to shareholders and the economy in 2005. Roundtable member companies are technology innovation leaders, with $90 billion in annual research and development spending -­‐ nearly half of the total private R&D spending in the U.S. Business Roundtable is also a leading member of Tapping America's Potential (TAP), a coalition of 16 prominent business and technology associations committed to sustaining U.S. scientific and technology leadership in the 21st century. About The Atlantic Council of the United States The Atlantic Council of the United States (www.acus.org) promotes constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the global challenges of the 21st century. The Atlantic Council embodies a network of world leaders and experts who aim to renew and energize the transatlantic community through non-­‐partisan and cross-­‐national discussions and studies. Council-­‐sponsored programs range from panels open to the public, private off-­‐the-­‐record dialogues to working groups and research reports with U.S., European and global policy and business leaders. The Atlantic Council also conducts educational and exchange programs for successor generations of U.S. and international leaders. About Sputnik Mania Created from thousands of hours of archival footage and recently declassified Cold War documents, Sputnik Mania presents a look at not only the birth of the space age, but also the Sputnik "mania" that spread worldwide over the following years. Much of the material in Sputnik Mania has not been seen in decades. The film reveals that the launch of Sputnik was a deep shock to the American public, inspiring both excitement and fear. The 184-­‐pound Sputnik I and the powerful rocket that bore it into orbit not only spawned a scientific revolution, but also triggered international suspicion and even panic in some circles and accelerated the nuclear arms race.