Neal Francis Lane
Encyclopedia
Neal Francis Lane is a U.S. physicist
. He served as provost
of Rice University
and served as Science Advisor to the President of the United States
. He has written extensively on theoretical physics
and technology
policy for the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.
and earned his undergraduate degree and PhD
from the University of Oklahoma
. He had a distinguished rise through academic circles, earning many fellowships and awards. He became an assistant professor of physics
at Rice University
in 1966 and the became a full professor in 1972. In 1979, while on leave, he worked at the National Science Foundation
as Director of the Division of Physics. He officially left Rice in 1984 to serve as Chancellor of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
. He returned to Rice in 1986 to become provost of the university, a position he held for six years.
Lane left Rice again to become director of National Science Foundation
in October 1993, a post he held until August 1998. During this time he was also an ex officio member of the National Science Board
. He was then appointed Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Bill Clinton
from August 1998 to January 2001.
When President Clinton's term ended, Lane returned once again to Rice, where he now lectures in physics and public policy.
Neal also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Baker Institute alongside Dr. Kirstin Matthews
with a focus on science and technology policy.
In 2009 Lane was awarded National Academy of Sciences'
most prestigious award, the Public Welfare Medal
.
He currently serves on the board of advisors of Scientists and Engineers for America
, an organization focused on promoting sound science in American government. He is also a trustee of the education non-profit Reasoning Mind
.
Neal Lane is married and has two children.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
. He served as provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and served as Science Advisor to the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. He has written extensively on theoretical physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
policy for the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.
Career
Lane was born in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
and earned his undergraduate degree and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. He had a distinguished rise through academic circles, earning many fellowships and awards. He became an assistant professor of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 1966 and the became a full professor in 1972. In 1979, while on leave, he worked at the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
as Director of the Division of Physics. He officially left Rice in 1984 to serve as Chancellor of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a campus of the University of Colorado system, the state university system of Colorado....
. He returned to Rice in 1986 to become provost of the university, a position he held for six years.
Lane left Rice again to become director of National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
in October 1993, a post he held until August 1998. During this time he was also an ex officio member of the National Science Board
National Science Board
The National Science Board of the United States is composed of 25 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, representing the broad U.S. science and engineering community. The Board establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation within the framework...
. He was then appointed Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
from August 1998 to January 2001.
When President Clinton's term ended, Lane returned once again to Rice, where he now lectures in physics and public policy.
Neal also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Baker Institute alongside Dr. Kirstin Matthews
Kirstin Matthews
Kirstin Matthews is a Fellow in Science and Technology Policy at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Matthews received a bachelors degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center...
with a focus on science and technology policy.
In 2009 Lane was awarded National Academy of Sciences'
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
most prestigious award, the Public Welfare Medal
Public Welfare Medal
The Public Welfare Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "in recognition of distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare." It is the most prestigious honor conferred by the Academy...
.
He currently serves on the board of advisors of Scientists and Engineers for America
Scientists and Engineers for America
-Mission statement:The organization's mission statement states:-SHARP Network:The Science, Health and Related Policies Network is a wiki to track congressional representatives, senators, and candidates as well as presidential candidates....
, an organization focused on promoting sound science in American government. He is also a trustee of the education non-profit Reasoning Mind
Reasoning Mind
Reasoning Mind is a non-profit organization that develops computer-based math curricula and works with schools to implement them in classrooms. In addition, RM provides professional development to teachers using the program...
.
Neal Lane is married and has two children.
External links
- Biography from Rice University
- Guide to the Neal Lane papers, 1964-2002 from the Woodson Research Center at Rice University