You've already read our policy forum in Science--but in my latest column for Science Progress, I go farther in drawing lessons from the ScienceDebate2008 experience thus far. They are:
1. Ignore the Naysayers
2. Whatever Happens in 2008, We Can Build on the Experience in 2012
3. There is No Excuse for Science To Run and Hide Again From Politics
4. Think Outside the Box, and Never Give Up
Read here for details....
P.S.: The massive and influential World Wildlife Federation has just endorsed ScienceDebate2008...
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tags: science, public policy, politics,
tags: ScienceDebate2008, AAAS,
This is too important to give up, and I am very relieved that you have a plan for 2012. I liked your points 3 & 4 as well, as the oppositions have no qualms about mixing it up in public and seizing any political advantage they can. I hope many scientists will be mobilized to speak out and speak up in the public square. Squeaky wheels, and all that.
I am very happy to see that the World Wildlife Fund, one of my personal commitment organizations, has endorsed Sciencedebate 2008.
And I hardly ever give up... It will happen...
The trend is clear, indeed it is right on schedule. A cool, relentless equation. The "next" science debate will cover one topic. The one that isn't covered on this blog.
Well, unless there's a foolproof way to make sure the debate isn't run like tonight's debacle, a ScienceDebate could easily push science policy back out of the national discourse as quickly as it pushed it in.
I trust the organizers to find moderators who would ask questions about science policy (Hint, don't hire anyone from ABC News).
I don't trust the media to shape the coverage of a debate around the policy questions.
I don't trust the campaigns to shape their post-debate messages on the policy issues.
I would say the same things about debates focused on any particular area of policy.
I was one of those naysayers (on the grounds that there was just no way to make it happen this year) but #2 makes excellent sense.
"No Matter What Happens This Year, There is No Excuse for Science To Run and Hide Again From Politics."
Again this monolithic ans mystical "Science"! :-)
Why, then, should scientists "lay low" on matters _they_ personally think are politically important? Or why should they "check their highly developed critical faculties at the door" just because everyone does not think like them?
You see, also scientists have different kind of political views. It seems that the politicians (I count you as one) want scientists to speak out only when the former see it to be politically correct and when it is beneficial for the politicians cause.
Just read your latest in TNR. Excellent!