Wendy Schmidt: Three centuries of science is something to celebrate

Key Points:

• George Washington died in 1799 without knowledge of dinosaurs or modern scientific understandings, and his death was hastened by outdated medical treatments like bloodletting and mercury chloride.
• Since Washington's time, scientific knowledge has dramatically advanced, especially post-World War II, with America leading breakthroughs such as the polio vaccine, moon landing, and discovery of DNA’s structure.
• Today, science and technology are advancing rapidly, expanding human understanding of Earth and the universe through innovations in computation, robotics, and space exploration, highlighting the critical importance of continued investment in science.
• Despite progress, public funding for basic research has declined and public trust in science has eroded, creating opportunities for philanthropy to support endangered research, promote ethical AI, and take risks that government and industry often avoid.
• Philanthropy can also foster global scientific collaboration and resilience, emphasizing humanity’s shared connection to Earth and the need to protect its fragile ecosystems as we celebrate 250 years of American scientific achievement.