Organization:ScienceDebate.org
Purpose | Science Debate asks candidates, elected officials, the public and the media to focus more on science policy issues of vital importance to modern life. As a registered 501(c)(3), Science Debate is nonpartisan. We encourage everyone to ask their candidates to discuss and debate their science and technology policies for the well-being of our nation and society. |
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Key people | Matthew Chapman, Sheril Kirshenbaum, Chris Mooney, Shawn Lawrence Otto, Lawrence Krauss, Austin Dacey, Darlene Cavalier, Michael Halpern |
Website | http://www.sciencedebate.org |
Science Debate is a nonpartisan American nonprofit organization working to elevate the importance of science and technology in the national public dialogue. They ask candidates running of office to share their science policy perspectives before Election Day so that every politician arrives in office prepared to meet the 21st centuries greatest challenges on day one. Driven by the vital role that science and technology play in the health, environmental, and economic well-being of society, Science Debate strives to provide voters with sufficient and meaningful information on these key issues when electing people to serve in public office.
The organization has the support of 24 Nobel laureates; 172 leaders of scientific institutions; 108 university presidents and provosts; and 55 current and former business leaders (such as company presidents, CEOs, and chairpersons). Well-known signatories include: actors Johnny Depp and Mark Ruffalo, presidential science adviser John Holdren, former energy secretary Steven Chu, inventor Elon Musk, actor/producer David Schwimmer, and educator Bill Nye.[1][2]
History
Founding of Science Debate
In the run-up to the 2008 presidential election, the lack of discussion about science and technology issues caught the attention of film director and screenwriter Matthew Chapman.[3] Together with science journalist Chris Mooney, science writer Sheril Kirshenbaum, screenwriter and science advocate Shawn Lawrence Otto, theoretical physicist and cosmologist Lawrence Krauss, and science philosopher Austin Dacey, Science Debate 2008 was created.[4][5][6] Shortly thereafter, Science Cheerleader founder Darlene Cavalier and science advocate Michael Halpern joined the team.[7]
Within weeks of its founding, people and organizations from across the political spectrum signed on directly.[8][9] This included prominent institutions such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the U.S. National Academies, as well as political movers ranging from John Podesta, President Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff, on the left to Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker, on the right.[10][11] Collectively, by counting the members in the signatory organizations, Science Debate represents more than 125 million people.[12]
Science Debate in 2008
Throughout 2008, there were many calls for the candidates to participate in a science debate.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] On the eve of the Democratic National Convention, then nominee Barack Obama agreed to participate in an online “debate.” He formed a science advisory team that included Harold Varmus to help him answer the questions.[20] Days later, Senator John McCain agreed to a “debate” in this format as well. The candidates’ answers to “The Fourteen Top Science Questions Facing America,” covering climate change, energy, health care, space, the environment, and the research drivers of economic competitiveness were published in Nature.[21][22][23][24][25] Science Debate's story and the candidates' responses made nearly a billion media impressions.[26]
Science Debate in 2012
In partnership with Scientific American, Science Debate got President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney to address fourteen questions on some of the biggest scientific and technological challenges facing the nation.[27][28] Scientific American, the group’s media partner in 2012, published the answers and rated them based on the current science.[29][30] The process of soliciting responses from the candidates and subsequent analysis of the answers was the subject of much conversation in the media during both the primaries[31][32][33][34][35] and general election.[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]
Science Debate in 2016
For the 2016 election cycle, Science Debate signed with a major television network as a media partner.[45][46] On October 8, 2015, Science Debate and Research!America commissioned a poll of American attitudes about science and politics. Conducted with 1,002 American adults of voting age, an overwhelming majority (87%) said it is important that candidates for President and Congress have a basic understanding of the science informing public policy issues, including majorities across the political spectrum (92% of Democrats, 90% of Republicans, and 79% of Independents). Americans also said the presidential candidates should participate in a debate to discuss key science-based challenges facing the United States, such as healthcare, climate change, energy, education, innovation and the economy (91% of Democrats, 88% of Republicans and 78% of Independents).[47] The poll prompted major news outlets to ask why the candidates aren't addressing science issues.[48][49][50][51][52]
On January 11, 2016, Science Debate released a PSA in which children ask the candidates for President to discuss various scientific issues including climate change, clean drinking water and the honey bee colony collapse problem. The video garnered significant media coverage, inspiring writers to echo the children's call for increased discussion of science.[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61]
On August 10 2016, Science Debate released the 20 top science questions. All four major candidates: President Donald Trump, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein responded in writing to the 2016 Science Debate Q&A.”[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72]
Science Debate in 2018
In 2018, Science Debate expanded to ask all 2018 House, Senate and Gubernatorial candidates to participate in answering 10 questions about science policy. The first responses were released on January 3, 2018.
References
- ↑ "Science vs. science | The Scientist Magazine". http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/25894/title/Science-vs--science/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Presidential Science". http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/presidentail-science/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "A Call for a Presidential Debate on Science and Technology Policy". 12 December 2007. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-chapman-and-sheril-kirshenbaum/a-call-for-a-presidential_b_76479.html. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ Otto, Shawn Lawrence (13 December 2007). "Let's have a presidential debate on science". http://www.salon.com/2007/12/13/sciencedebate2008/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Commentary: A science-literate president, please" (in en-US). https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626342-300-commentary-a-science-literate-president-please/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ Krauss, Lawrence; Mooney, Chris (2007-12-12). "Make science part of the debate" (in en-US). Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/12/opinion/oe-mooney12.
- ↑ "Making Science a Presidential Priority". Bloomberg.com. 9 February 2008. https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2008-02-08/making-science-a-presidential-prioritybusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "A Presidential Science Debate?". 24 December 2007. http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/a-presidential-science-debate/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Voters Petition for Presidential Science Debate". https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18024420. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "A New Topic for Debate". 25 December 2007. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/a-new-topic-for-debate/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "ScienceDebate.org | The Science 57". http://www.sciencedebate.org/2012/news20080131.html. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ Kirshenbaum, Sheril R.; Mooney, Chris; Otto, Shawn Lawrence; Chapman, Matthew; Dacey, Austin; Holt, Rush; Krauss, Lawrence (2008-04-11). "Science and the Candidates". Science 320 (5873): 182. doi:10.1126/science.1158281. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 18403695.
- ↑ Krauss, Lawrence M.. "Science and the Candidates". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119690672602315322.
- ↑ "Science Debate Is Set; Now, Will Candidates Come?". 11 February 2008. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/science-debate-is-set-now-will-candidates-come/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Science Debate 2008: Candidates Invited". 12 February 2008. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-chapman/science-debate-2008-candi_b_86228.html. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "No Democratic Science Debate, Yet". 8 April 2008. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/no-democratic-science-debate-yet/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Science Debate 2008 -- Take Two". 10 April 2008. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-chapman/science-debate-2008----ta_b_96037.html. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Candidates Talk Religion, Diss Science". 2008-04-10. https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4622908&page=1. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "A Presidential Science Debate". http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/3E266FAE-D9C3-DAB6-A69CA7D4A2FEE2B0/. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Obama's brain trust". https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-public/obamas-brain-trust. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "ScienceDebate.org | Science Debate 2008: Obama vs McCain". http://www.sciencedebate.org/2012/debate08.html. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
- ↑ "Obama on Science". 2 September 2008. http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/obama-on-science/?scp=1&sq=science%2520debate&st=cse. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Where John McCain stands on science : News blog". http://blogs.nature.com/news/2008/09/where_john_mccain_stands_on_sc.html. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Don't Know Much About Technology: McCain Tackles ScienceDebate Questions - Reality Base" (in en-US). http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/15/dont-know-much-about-technology-mccain-tackles-sciencedebate-questions/#.VkVtJuLe_Cs. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ Broad, William J. (2008-09-16). "Presidential Candidates' Positions on Science Issues". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/science/16science.html.
- ↑ Otto, Shawn Lawrence (2011-10-11). Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America. Rodale. ISBN 9781609613204. https://books.google.com/books?id=6pMqCjVynG0C.
- ↑ "Obama and Romney Tackle 14 Top Science Questions". http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/obama-romney-science-debate/. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
- ↑ "Updated: Obama, Romney tackle science debate questions". http://www.sciencedebate.org/2012/news20120827.html#.VkS_tuLe_Cs. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Obama and Romney Tackle 14 Top Science Questions". http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/obama-romney-science-debate/. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ "Bring It: A Call for Candidates to Debate Science Policy". http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-it-a-call/. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ Tett, Gillian (2011-11-25). "Why doesn't America like science?". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/6b989370-164a-11e1-a691-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1ekIM362r.
- ↑ "Where Do the Republican Candidates Stand on Science?". 18 January 2012. https://reason.com/archives/2012/01/18/republican-science-candidates. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Science Is Political | February 20, 2012 Issue - Vol. 90 Issue 8 | Chemical & Engineering News". http://cen.acs.org/articles/90/i8/Science-Political.html. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Americans Deserve a Presidential Science Debate". 19 March 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-m-krauss/americans-deserve-a-presi_b_1364739.html. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Poll: science debates a voter priority". http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2012/04/poll-science-debates-a-voter-priority/1#.VkS-0OLe_Ct. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "What Do Obama and Romney Know about Science? And Why It Matters". http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/obama-romney-science-debate-why-it-matters/. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Paul Ryan's Record on Science and Government". https://www.science.org/content/article/paul-ryans-record-science-and-government. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Obama and Romney Weigh in on Science Questions". 4 September 2012. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/obama-and-romney-weigh-in-on-science-questions/. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ Banerjee, Neela (2012-09-04). "Obama, Romney duel over climate change in online debate" (in en-US). Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/04/news/la-pn-obama-romney-climate-change-20120904.
- ↑ Martinez, Jennifer (23 October 2012). "Obama makes unexpected push for improved math and science education during final debate". http://thehill.com/policy/technology/263455-obama-makes-unexpected-push-for-improved-math-and-science-education-during-final-debate. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ Karen Kaplan (October 5, 2012). "Obama and Romney answer questions about science policy". http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/05/science/la-sci-science-debate-part-1-20121006.
- ↑ Chang, Kenneth (2012-11-12). "Obama's Re-election Welcomed by Many Science Researchers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/science/obamas-re-election-welcomed-by-many-science-researchers.html.
- ↑ Jim Cooper; Alan I. Leshner (2012-09-09). "It's time to get serious about science" (in en-US). The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-get-serious-about-science/2012/09/09/5b5c1472-f129-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_story.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions.
- ↑ Krauss, Lawrence M. (2012-10-01). "With Limited Budgets, Pursuing Science Smartly". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/science/with-limited-budgets-pursuing-science-smartly.html.
- ↑ "ScienceDebate Revs Up for 2016 Presidential Election". http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/sciencedebate-revs-up-for-2016-presidential-election/. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Fox 5 NY News" (in en-US). http://www.fox5ny.com/#.VUoXEKcGxBc.facebook. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "ScienceDebate.org | 87% of Americans Say Candidates Should Have Basic Understanding of Science Informing Public Policy". http://www.sciencedebate.org/Poll2015. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
- ↑ "Science Is Important, So Why Aren't Politicians Talking About It?". 2015-10-15. https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge/2015/10/15/american-public-wants-elected-leaders-to-understand-science. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ Kluger, Jeffrey. "Voters to Candidates: Know Your Science!". http://time.com/4066320/candidates-science-knowledge/. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Majority Think Candidates Should Understand Science". 19 October 2015. http://wonkwire.com/2015/10/19/majority-think-candidates-should-understand-science/. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ↑ "Billionaire Steyer calls for more Democratic debates". http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/tom-steyer-more-democratic-debates-2016-214085. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "Republican Candidates Embrace Science!". 18 September 2015. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-chapman/republican-candidates-emb_b_8156372.html. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ↑ "It's Time for a Presidential Debate on Science Policy". http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/it-s-time-for-a-presidential-debate-on-science-policy/.
- ↑ "Bustle". http://www.bustle.com/articles/134899-what-do-kids-think-about-the-presidential-candidates-their-concerns-may-surprise-you-video.
- ↑ "What Do Kids Think About the Presidential Candidates? Watch.". 11 January 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shawn-lawrence-otto/what-do-kids-think-about_b_8955174.html.
- ↑ "These kids want a science-themed presidential debate" (in en-US). 11 January 2016. http://grist.org/politics/these-kids-want-a-science-themed-presidential-debate/.
- ↑ "When Will the Presidential Candidates Talk About Science?". http://lawstreetmedia.com/elections/when-will-the-presidential-candidates-talk-about-science/.
- ↑ "VIDEO: Watch These Kids Explain The Need For A Presidential Debate About Science". http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/01/11/video-watch-these-kids-explain-the-need-for-a-p/207892.
- ↑ "Kids to Candidates: Debate Climate Science!". http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/14/kids-candidates-debate-climate-science.
- ↑ "Why Do 75 Million Non-Voting Citizens Need Your Vote?". http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-chapman/candidates-ignore-75-mill_b_8958468.html.
- ↑ "Kids ask US presidential candidates to debate science" (in en-GB). The Guardian. 2016-01-14. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/jan/14/kids-ask-us-presidential-candidates-to-debate-science.
- ↑ "Challenge to presidential candidates: Debate about science". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/08/10/challenge-to-presidential-candidates-debate-about-science/.
- ↑ "What millions will read about TRUMP -- BUZZ: Leading contenders to moderate debates -- PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW: Anita Dunn on debates -- Junior aides leave RNC due to Trump -- B'DAY: Nancy Cordes". http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/08/what-millions-will-read-about-trump-buzz-leading-contenders-to-moderate-debates-playbook-interview-anita-dunn-on-debates-junior-aides-leave-rnc-due-to-trump-bday-nancy-cordes-215788.
- ↑ Worl, Justin. "What Do Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Think About Science? Researchers Want to Know". http://time.com/4445585/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-science-climate-change/.
- ↑ "U.S. science groups have 20 questions for candidates". 2016-08-09. https://www.science.org/content/article/us-science-groups-have-20-questions-candidates.
- ↑ "Questioning the Presidential Candidates on Science | The Scientist Magazine®". http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/46754/title/Questioning-the-Presidential-Candidates-on-Science/.
- ↑ "Groups ask candidates: What about science?". http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/groups-ask-candidates-what-about-science/article/2599053.
- ↑ "US Scientists Want To Know What Presidential Candidates Think About Science". 2016-08-11. http://www.ibtimes.com/us-scientists-want-know-what-presidential-candidates-think-about-science-2400117.
- ↑ "Scientists have 20 burning questions for presidential candidates". Christian Science Monitor. 2016-08-11. ISSN 0882-7729. http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0811/Scientists-have-20-burning-questions-for-presidential-candidates.
- ↑ AFP/PTI. "Can US presidential candidates answer these 20 science questions". http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/can-us-presidential-candidates-answer-these-20-science-questions-116081001399_1.html.
- ↑ "Las 20 preguntas que científicos urgen a Clinton y Trump a responder". http://www.univision.com/noticias/planeta/las-20-preguntas-que-cientificos-urgen-a-clinton-y-trump-a-responder.
- ↑ "Over 50 leading American nonpartisan organizations call on presidential candidates to address major issues in science, engineering, technology, health and the environment". http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/aaft-o5l080516.php.
External links
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScienceDebate.org.
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