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Science Debate
Formation2008
PurposeScience Debate asks candidates, elected officials, the public and the media to focus more on science policy issues of vital importance to modern life. As a registered 501(c)(3), Science Debate is nonpartisan. We encourage everyone to ask their candidates to discuss and debate their science and technology policies for the well-being of our nation and society.
Key people
Matthew Chapman, Sheril Kirshenbaum, Chris Mooney, Shawn Lawrence Otto, Lawrence Krauss, Austin Dacey, Darlene Cavalier, Michael Halpern

Science Debate is a nonpartisan American nonprofit organization working to elevate the importance of science and technology in the national public dialogue. They ask candidates running of office to share their science policy perspectives before Election Day so that every politician arrives in office prepared to meet the 21st centuries greatest challenges on day one. Driven by the vital role that science and technology play in the health, environmental, and economic well-being of society, Science Debate strives to provide voters with sufficient and meaningful information on these key issues when electing people to serve in public office.

The organization has the support of 24 Nobel laureates; 172 leaders of scientific institutions; 108 university presidents and provosts; and 55 current and former business leaders (such as company presidents, CEOs, and chairpersons). Well-known signatories include: actors Johnny Depp and Mark Ruffalo, presidential science adviser John Holdren, former energy secretary Steven Chu, inventor Elon Musk, actor/producer David Schwimmer, and educator Bill Nye.[1][2]

History

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Founding of Science Debate

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In the run-up to the 2008 presidential election, the lack of discussion about science and technology issues caught the attention of film director and screenwriter Matthew Chapman.[3] Together with science journalist Chris Mooney, science writer Sheril Kirshenbaum, screenwriter and science advocate Shawn Lawrence Otto, theoretical physicist and cosmologist Lawrence Krauss, and science philosopher Austin Dacey, Science Debate 2008 was created.[4][5][6] Shortly thereafter, Science Cheerleader founder Darlene Cavalier and science advocate Michael Halpern joined the team.[7]

Within weeks of its founding, people and organizations from across the political spectrum signed on directly.[8][9] This included prominent institutions such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the U.S. National Academies, as well as political movers ranging from John Podesta, President Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff, on the left to Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker, on the right.[10][11] Collectively, by counting the members in the signatory organizations, Science Debate represents more than 125 million people.[12]

Science Debate in 2008

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Throughout 2008, there were many calls for the candidates to participate in a science debate.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] On the eve of the Democratic National Convention, then nominee Barack Obama agreed to participate in an online “debate.” He formed a science advisory team that included Harold Varmus to help him answer the questions.[20] Days later, Senator John McCain agreed to a “debate” in this format as well. The candidates’ answers to “The Fourteen Top Science Questions Facing America,” covering climate change, energy, health care, space, the environment, and the research drivers of economic competitiveness were published in Nature.[21][22][23][24][25] Science Debate's story and the candidates' responses made nearly a billion media impressions.[26]

Science Debate in 2012

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In partnership with Scientific American, Science Debate got President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney to address fourteen questions on some of the biggest scientific and technological challenges facing the nation.[27][28] Scientific American, the group’s media partner in 2012, published the answers and rated them based on the current science.[29][30] The process of soliciting responses from the candidates and subsequent analysis of the answers was the subject of much conversation in the media during both the primaries[31][32][33][34][35] and general election.[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]

Science Debate in 2016

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For the 2016 election cycle, Science Debate signed with a major television network as a media partner.[45][46] On October 8, 2015, Science Debate and Research!America commissioned a poll of American attitudes about science and politics. Conducted with 1,002 American adults of voting age, an overwhelming majority (87%) said it is important that candidates for President and Congress have a basic understanding of the science informing public policy issues, including majorities across the political spectrum (92% of Democrats, 90% of Republicans, and 79% of Independents). Americans also said the presidential candidates should participate in a debate to discuss key science-based challenges facing the United States, such as healthcare, climate change, energy, education, innovation and the economy (91% of Democrats, 88% of Republicans and 78% of Independents).[47] The poll prompted major news outlets to ask why the candidates aren't addressing science issues.[48][49][50][51][52]

On January 11, 2016, Science Debate released a PSA in which children ask the candidates for President to discuss various scientific issues including climate change, clean drinking water and the honey bee colony collapse problem. The video garnered significant media coverage, inspiring writers to echo the children's call for increased discussion of science.[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61]

On August 10 2016, Science Debate released the 20 top science questions. All four major candidates: President Donald Trump, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein responded in writing to the 2016 Science Debate Q&A.”[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72]

Science Debate in 2018

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In 2018, Science Debate expanded to ask all 2018 House, Senate and Gubernatorial candidates to participate in answering 10 questions about science policy. The first responses were released on January 3, 2018.

Science Debate in 2023

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In spring of 2023, Science Debate was renamed Science on the Ballot and joined the National Science Policy Network.[73]

References

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  1. ^ "Science vs. science | The Scientist Magazine". The Scientist. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. ^ "Presidential Science". www.scientificamerican.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  3. ^ "A Call for a Presidential Debate on Science and Technology Policy". The Huffington Post. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  4. ^ Otto, Shawn Lawrence (13 December 2007). "Let's have a presidential debate on science". Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  5. ^ "Commentary: A science-literate president, please". New Scientist. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  6. ^ Krauss, Lawrence; Mooney, Chris (2007-12-12). "Make science part of the debate". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
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  30. ^ "Bring It: A Call for Candidates to Debate Science Policy". www.scientificamerican.com. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
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  42. ^ Chang, Kenneth (2012-11-12). "Obama's Re-election Welcomed by Many Science Researchers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  43. ^ Jim Cooper; Alan I. Leshner (2012-09-09). "It's time to get serious about science". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  44. ^ Krauss, Lawrence M. (2012-10-01). "With Limited Budgets, Pursuing Science Smartly". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  45. ^ "ScienceDebate Revs Up for 2016 Presidential Election". blogs.scientificamerican.com. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  46. ^ "Fox 5 NY News". WNYW. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  47. ^ "ScienceDebate.org | 87% of Americans Say Candidates Should Have Basic Understanding of Science Informing Public Policy". www.sciencedebate.org. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  48. ^ "Science Is Important, So Why Aren't Politicians Talking About It?". U.S. News & World Report. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  49. ^ Kluger, Jeffrey. "Voters to Candidates: Know Your Science!". Time. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
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  55. ^ "What Do Kids Think About the Presidential Candidates? Watch". The Huffington Post. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
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  57. ^ "When Will the Presidential Candidates Talk About Science?". Law Street (TM). Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  58. ^ "VIDEO: Watch These Kids Explain The Need For A Presidential Debate About Science". Media Matters for America. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  59. ^ "Kids to Candidates: Debate Climate Science!". Common Dreams. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  60. ^ "Why Do 75 Million Non-Voting Citizens Need Your Vote?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  61. ^ "Kids ask US presidential candidates to debate science". The Guardian. 2016-01-14. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
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  63. ^ "What millions will read about TRUMP -- BUZZ: Leading contenders to moderate debates -- PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW: Anita Dunn on debates -- Junior aides leave RNC due to Trump -- B'DAY: Nancy Cordes". POLITICO. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  64. ^ Worl, Justin. "What Do Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Think About Science? Researchers Want to Know". Time. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
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  68. ^ "US Scientists Want To Know What Presidential Candidates Think About Science". International Business Times. 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  69. ^ "Scientists have 20 burning questions for presidential candidates". Christian Science Monitor. 2016-08-11. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  70. ^ AFP/PTI. "Can US presidential candidates answer these 20 science questions". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  71. ^ "Las 20 preguntas que científicos urgen a Clinton y Trump a responder". www.univision.com. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  72. ^ "Over 50 leading American nonpartisan organizations call on presidential candidates to address major issues in science, engineering, technology, health and the environment". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  73. ^ Science on the Ballot Info Session (Science Debate) | National Science Policy Network - NSPN. 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2024-11-27 – via YouTube.
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