Getting the Candidates On Record for Science

Over the past several months, there has been great interest within the scientific community in getting the Presidential candidates on record with regard to their views on science issues. Although both candidates have expressed their views about science on their campaign websites and more recently on the pages of Science (October 1 issue), stem cell research was the only issue that received much attention during the debates. On September 30, in a forum sponsored by the Washington Science Policy Alliance and held at AAAS headquarters, representatives of both campaigns were invited to share the views of their respective campaigns, followed by a Q&A session moderated by Mary Woolley, President of Research!America (one of the coalitions that figured prominently in the advocacy campaign to double the NIH budget). The full exchange, as well as links to the campaign positions, is available on the AAAS website.

There were two back to back questions that may be of special interest to SPIN readers because they dealt sequentially, first with behavioral science, then with the scientific integrity of the peer review process. A transcript of that portion of the Q&A is available here.

It's still the hope of the scientific community (although dwindling) that the candidates themselves might consider engaging in a virtual forum to answer questions from the scientific community directly. A Herculean effort to bring that concept to fruition has been lead by David Cooper of the American Physical Society since August.  APA, along with 54 other scientific organizations, partnered in the effort with commitments of financial support. In addition, Steve Breckler, Executive Director for Science, sent an appeal to 757 Psychology Department Chairs asking them to make preliminary arrangements to assemble faculty and student audiences in support of the proposed webcast. Steve's email can be found here.

Dr. Breckler received a vigorous response from the Department Chairs, and we will be certain to issue a special edition of SPIN if the virtual Town Hall Meeting can in fact be arranged.

More information about the virtual Town Hall Meeting
Learn more about the candidates' views on science policy
Read a transcript of the Q&A session
Read Dr. Breckler's email to Psychology Department Chairs

Back to SPIN October 2004

Back to Top^