Email from Steve Breckler to Psychology Department Chairs

Dear Psychology Department Chair:

In conjunction with 53 other science, engineering, and industry organizations, the American Psychological Association has proposed a pair of "Virtual Town Hall Meetings" with the major-party presidential candidates. I am writing to let you know about this invitation and ask you to be prepared to help organize gatherings to view the proposed webcasts if they occur. While we have not received a firm response from either campaign thus far, we need to be prepared to organize quickly should they agree to participate.

To ensure a large audience for the events, we are working with industry contacts, university administrators and faculty, and national lab leaders to organize large gatherings to view the webcasts. We hope that your department will join this effort, either on its own or in conjunction with other science departments on your campus.

Organizing such a gathering would offer your faculty and students the opportunity to see the presidential candidates discuss science and technology issues and join a community of thousands of other scientists and engineers. Moreover, your participation would further one of the main goals of the events: to establish the science and engineering community as a significant constituency in the eyes of the candidates.

The proposed webcasts would provide an opportunity for President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry to interact with scientists and engineers working in industry, national laboratories, and universities across the United States. The meetings would consist of separate events during which each candidate would deliver remarks setting forth a vision for science and technology in the 21st Century. In fitting with our high-tech age, the remarks would be webcast live to tens of thousands of scientists and engineers throughout the country, and a short question and answer period via the Internet would follow. The total time of each event would be no more than 45 minutes. Technical requirements to view the Webcasts will be minimal--just a computer, a projector, and an internet connection. More details, including the letters of invitation, are available at http://www.HiTechTownHall.org . An Associated Press story about the proposed events can be viewed at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5762324 .

I hope you will agree to join us in this exciting endeavor. Please let me know by return e-mail whether you will be able to do so, and we will provide additional information as soon as it is available.

Best Regards,

Steven J. Breckler, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Science
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5938
(202) 336-5953 (fax)
sbreckler@apa.org
www.apa.org/science

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