- Science Debate 2008
Science Debate 2008 is a
grassroots campaign to call for a publicdebate in which the candidates for the2008 U.S. presidential election discuss issues relating to the environment, health and medicine, and science and technology policy. The effort is being co-chaired by U.S. House representativesVernon J. Ehlers andRush D. Holt, Jr. , and the steering committee includesChris Mooney , Matthew Chapman,Arne Carlson ,Lawrence Krauss ,Sheril Kirshenbaum , John Rennie, andShawn Lawrence Otto .Among the scientific organizations supporting the program are the
Carnegie Institution of Washington , theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science , the National Academy of Sciences, theUnion of Concerned Scientists , theBiophysical Society , and theAssociation for Women in Science . [http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=7 Selected supporter list] ] Other supporters include politicians, [cite web |url=http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=2057 |title=Gordon Adds His Voice to Call for Science Focused Presidential Debate |accessdate=2008-02-01 |format= |work=] prominent research universities,Nobel laureate s, business institutions, and science media editors.Science Debate 2008's partners in the debate are the National Academy of Science, the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering, the Council on Competitiveness, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Originally, the four top candidates for the 2008 election,
Hillary Clinton ,Barack Obama ,Mike Huckabee , andJohn McCain , were officially invited to discuss science and technology issues atPhiladelphia 'sFranklin Institute on April 18, 2008. [cite web |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/11/655820.aspx |title=Invites go out for Science Debate - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com |accessdate=2008-02-12 |format= |work=] [cite web |url=http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/science-debate-is-set-now-will-candidates-come/#more-165 |title=Science Debate Is Set; Now, Will Candidates Come? - Dot Earth - Climate Change and Sustainability - New York Times Blog |accessdate=2008-02-12 |format= |work=] However, after none of the candidates agreed to participate in the debate, [cite web|url=http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/33774|title=US renews call for science debate|publisher=physicsworld.com|first=Jon|last=Cartwright|date=2008-04-15|accessdate=2008-04-20] [cite web|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/editor/86/8616editor.html|title=Debate science ... please|publisher=Chemical & Engineering News |first=Rudy|last=Baum|date=2008-04-21|accessdate=2008-04-21] a second invitation was sent, proposing a debate atPortland State University on May 2, May 9, or May 16. The moderator will beDavid Brancaccio , and it will air onPBS . Unlike most other debates, the questions will be provided in advance. [cite web |url=http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=29 |title=Second invitation for Science Debate 2008|accessdate=2008-04-20 |format= |work=]Science Debate 2008 has received media attention from
MSNBC , [cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23111342/ |title=Making Science a Presidential Priority - BusinessWeek.com - MSNBC.com |accessdate=2008-02-12 |format= |work=] cite web |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/29/619086.aspx |title=State of the science - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com |accessdate=2008-02-01 |format= |work=] "Science Friday ",cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18024420 |title=NPR: Voters Petition for Presidential Science Debate |accessdate=2008-02-01 |format= |work=]Wired.com , [ [http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/07/14-science-ques.html 14 Science Questions the Next President Should Answer] ]Earth & Sky , [cite web |url=http://www.earthsky.org/radioshows/52213/candidates-talk-science-in-science-debate-2008 |title=Science Debate 2008 garners flood of�support � Radio Shows | Earth & Sky |accessdate=2008-02-12 |format= |work=] as well as the editors of "Scientific American " [cite web |url=http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=presidentail-science |title=Presidential Science: Scientific American |accessdate=2008-02-01 |format= |work=] and "Science". [cite journal |author=Donald Kennedy |title=The Real Debate |journal=Science |volume=319|issue=5863|pages=548 |year=2008|pmid=|doi=10.1126/science.1155357] An editorial in "Nature" cautioned that "the proposed debate can be seen as an attempt by various élite institutions to grab the microphone and set the agenda from the top down" [cite journal |author=|title=Best tests for candidates|journal=Nature|volume=451|issue=7179 |pages=605 |year=2008|pmid=|doi=10.1038/451605a] and "Nature" columnist David Goldston stated that "there is no reason to assume that a presidential debate on science matters would be instructive for the public or helpful to scientists." [cite journal |author=|title=A debatable proposition|journal=Nature|volume=451|issue=7179 |pages=621 |year=2008|pmid=|doi=10.1038/451621a]ee also
*
United States presidential election debates, 2008
*Democratic Party (United States) presidential debates, 2008
*Republican Party (United States) presidential debates, 2008 References
External links
* [http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=2 Science Debate 2008 website]
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