Best Of: Call for a Presidential Science Debate

originally published December 10, 2007 by Chris C. Mooney

So, finally, Sheril and I can tell you what we've been working on.

Let's begin with some background: Nearly a month ago, I linked up with Matthew Chapman, the author, screenwriter, and great grandson of Charles Darwin. Chapman, I already knew, had a great idea that I wanted to write about in my forthcoming Seed column: A call for a debate among the current crop of presidential candidates solely devoted to issues in science and technology.

One thing led to another, and before long--along with many others, including Sheril (whose contribution has been invaluable) and Physics of Star Trek author Lawrence Krauss-- I was helping Chapman organize a push to make this happen. First we got together a distinguished list of scientific luminaries, and later, we assembled a complementary blogger coalition, all in support of the following statement:

Given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness, we, the undersigned, call for a public debate in which the U.S. presidential candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment, Medicine and Health, and Science and Technology Policy.

And now, today, we're going public!

We're firmly convinced this is an idea whose time has come. The candidates need to talk science and technology policy on the campaign trail, and not in an occasional way, but in a debate format. Nobel Laureates, former presidential science advisers, leaders of industry and universities, and many others agree with us.

So we hope you'll visit the ScienceDebate2008 website, browse the lists (scientists, bloggers), click the button pledging your support, head over and also join us on Facebook--and above all, spread the word!!!!