The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has launched a Web site to tap public opinion on the future of advanced manufacturing. PCAST is an advisory group of scientists and engineers, appointed by the President to augment the science and technology advice currently available.

There are already several questions on the site that government officials hope industry experts and manufacturers will provide feedback and insight on. PCAST asks participants provide responses to any or all of the following questions by end of day Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

• Are public-private partnerships (e.g., consortia), in which government jointly funds projects with industry and often academia, a good mechanism to support new manufacturing technologies that are beyond the reach of individual firms? If not, why not?
• Should the federal government assist in the formation and advancement of small firms in the advanced manufacturing sector? If not, why not?
• Should the President create a national science- and technology-based manufacturing strategy as a pillar of US economic policy? If not, why not? If so, which actions should have highest priority? Which of these are most cost-effective?

Writing about the site in the White House blog, PCAST Executive Director Deborah Stine said respondents should strive to be specific and provide empirical data whenever possible.

"Importantly, this is a community-moderated blog. That means we count on you to keep the forum focused and on-topic-something you can do by "voting" on comments," she wrote in the blog.