Science Debate 2008
Innovation 2008
Find your candidates,
ask where they stand.
The Story
In November, 2007, a small group of six citizens - two screenwriters, a physicist, a marine biologist, a philosopher and a science journalist - began working to restore science and innovation to America’s political dialogue. They called themselves Science Debate 2008, and they called for a presidential debate on science. The call tapped a wellspring of concern over the state of American science.
Within weeks, more than 38,000 scientists, engineers, and other concerned Americans signed on, including nearly every major American science organization, dozens of Nobel laureates, elected officials and business leaders, and the presidents of over 100 major American universities. See who here. Among other things, these signers submitted over 3,400 questions they want the candidates for President to answer about science and the future of America.
The Process
Beginning with these 3,400 questions, Science Debate 2008 worked with Scientists and Engineers for America, the AAAS, the National Academies, the Council on Competitiveness, and the other organizations listed to craft the top 14 questions the candidates should answer. These questions are broad enough to allow for wide variations in response, but they are specific enough to help guide the discussion toward many of the largest and most important unresolved challenges currently facing the United States.
Barack Obama's & John McCain's Responses
The Questions and Answers, a Side by Side Comparison (CLICK IMAGE TO LINK)
SEA Press Release
61 Nobel Laureates in Science Endorse Obama
A group of 61 Nobel Laureates have gotten together to endorse Barack Obama for President. Their letter and the signatories are below. This is the largest number of Nobel Laureates to ever endorse a candidate for office
An Open Letter to the American People
This year’s presidential election is among the most significant in our nation’s history. The country urgently needs a visionary leader who can ensure the future of our traditional strengths in science and technology and who can harness those strengths to address many of our greatest problems: energy, disease, climate change, security, and economic competitiveness.
We are convinced that Senator Barack Obama is such a leader, and we urge you to join us in supporting him.
During the administration of George W. Bush, vital parts of our country’s scientific enterprise have been damaged by stagnant or declining federal support. The government’s scientific advisory process has been distorted by political considerations. As a result, our once dominant position in the scientific world has been shaken and our prosperity has been placed at risk. We have lost time critical for the development of new ways to provide energy, treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy.
We have watched Senator Obama’s approach to these issues with admiration. We especially applaud his emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation’s competitiveness. In particular, we support the measures he plans to take - through new initiatives in education and training, expanded research funding, an unbiased process for obtaining scientific advice, and an appropriate balance of basic and applied research - to meet the nation’s and the world’s most urgent needs.
Senator Obama understands that Presidential leadership and federal investments in science and technology are crucial elements in successful governance of the world’s leading country. We hope you will join us as we work together to ensure his election in November.
Signed,
Alexei Abrikosov
Physics
2003
Roger Guillemin
Medicine
1977
Peter Agre
Chemistry
2003
John L. Hall
Physics
2005
Sidney Altman
Chemistry
1989
Leland H. Hartwell
Medicine
2001
Philip W. Anderson
Physics
1977
Dudley Herschbach
Chemistry
1986
Richard Axel
Medicine
2004
Roald Hoffmann
Chemistry
1981
David Baltimore
Medicine
1975
H. Robert Horvitz
Medicine
2002
Baruj Benacerraf
Medicine
1980
Louis Ignarro
Medicine
1998
Paul Berg
Chemistry
1980
Eric R. Kandel
Medicine
2000
J. Michael Bishop
Medicine
1989
Walter Kohn
Chemistry
1998
N. Bloembergen
Physics
1981
Roger Kornberg
Chemistry
2006
Michael S. Brown
Medicine
1985
Leon M. Lederman
Physics
1988
Linda B. Buck
Medicine
2004
Craig C. Mello
Medicine
2006
Mario R. Capecchi
Medicine
2007
Marshall Nirenberg
Medicine
1968
Stanley Cohen
Medicine
1986
Douglas D. Osheroff
Physics
1996
Leon Cooper
Physics
1972
Stanley B. Prusiner
Medicine
1997
James W. Cronin
Physics
1980
Norman F. Ramsey
Physics
1989
Robert F. Curl
Chemistry
1996
Robert Richardson
Physics
1996
Johann Diesenhofer
Chemistry
1988
Burton Richter
Physics
1976
John B. Fenn
Chemistry
2002
Sherwood Rowland
Chemistry
1995
Edmond H. Fischer
Medicine
1992
Oliver Smithies
Medicine
2007
Val Fitch
Physics
1980
Richard R Schrock
Chemistry
2005
Jerome I. Friedman
Physics
1990
Joseph H. Taylor Jr.
Physics
1993
Riccardo Giacconi
Physics
2002
E. Donnall Thomas
Medicine
1990
Walter Gilbert
Chemistry
1980
Charles H. Townes
Physics
1964
Alfred G. Gilman
Medicine
1994
Daniel C.Tsui
Physics
1998
Donald A. Glaser
Physics
1960
Harold Varmus
Medicine
1989
Sheldon L. Glashow
Physics
1979
James D. Watson
Medicine
1962
Joseph Goldstein
Medicine
1985
Eric Wieschaus
Medicine
1995
Paul Greengard
Medicine
2000
Frank Wilczek
Physics
2004
David Gross
Physics
2004
Robert W. Wilson
Physics
1978
Robert H. Grubbs
Chemistry
2005
The views expressed in this letter represent those of the signers acting as individual citizens. They do not necessarily represent the views of the institutions with which they are affiliated. The Medicine award is for “Physiology or Medicine.”