Ruthann Baler

One day after President Obama delivered an inaugural speech that ignited a renewed sense of hope and optimism across the country, he faced a full agenda of meetings while six members of his Cabinet were confirmed by the Senate.

Among those confirmed was Steven Chu, the first energy secretary who is also a working scientist. In 1997 he shared the Nobel Prize in physics and has been a longtime advocate of scientific solutions to climate change.

“While much of the Department of Energy’s attention has previously focused on nuclear weapons and waste,” according to Time Magazine, “Chu, a firm believer in the dangers of climate change, will try to fulfill Obama’s promise to create millions of green collar jobs, develop alternative energy options and make the nation more energy independent.”

Speaking about Chu in December, Obama said, “His appointment should send a signal that my administration will value science … We will make decisions based on facts.”

Yesterday, Obama further elaborated on this point during his address:

“We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.

All this we can do. And all this we will do.” 

Apparently many Americans agreed. A poll by the Associated Press-Knowledge Networks reported today that by a 3-1 margin, people feel more optimistic about the country’s future now that Obama has been inaugurated, including 30 percent of Republicans.