White House's Sci-Tech Office Gets Web UpdateWhite House's Sci-Tech Office Gets Web Update

The Office of Science and Technology Policy, which advises President Obama on science and technology matters, has launched a revamped Web site that aligns the federal agency more closely with information coming out of the White House.

The site, which used to have its own URL at ostp.gov, can now be found at whitehouse.gov/ostp and has a look and feel that's consistent with WhiteHouse.gov's site design.

The OSTP will continue to communicate news and information through its blog, which is incorporated into the site. The user-comments function of the blog isn't currently operating, as the blog is being rebuilt on the open source Drupal content management system.

Other features on the OSTP site include a front page news column, a press page, information on the administration's R&D budgets, and individual pages for the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the National Science and Technology Council.

The OSTP 's technology division is headed by federal CTO Aneesh Chopra and includes four deputy CTOs, three assistant directors, and a half dozen policy analysts. The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is comprised of 21 scientists and engineers from outside government, including Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Microsoft chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie. PCAST and the National Science and Technology Council are administered by OSTP.

The Obama administration has made tech policy a high priority, introducing an "innovation strategy" last year and issuing a public request for ideas on "innovation goals" for the administration to pursue.

Download the first issue of information Government, with our cover story on government transparency. Get it here. (Registration required.)