In two weeks the United States will pick a new President. This is certainly one of the most important elections in recent memory. We are a nation facing economic and environmental catastrophe. And although these issues are clearly linked to science and technology, the voices of scientists are, as usual, somewhat muted (notwithstanding 67 Nobel Laureates [including all of this year's American laureates] endorsing Obama).
The Scientists & Engineers for America Action Fund (SEFORA) runs a great (non-partisan) website, chock-full of information about science and policy. They have teamed up with Scienceblogs (our dastardly competition) to host A Vote for Science on YouTube. This is a non-partisan effort, featuring videos of scientists explaining their vote for President. All scientists (including students) are welcome to post a video.
Your face could be up there alongside a brand-new Nobel Laureate (Marty Chalfie) and the father of the internet (Vint Cerf) [both of whom endorse Barack Obama]. And yours truly. Scientists, this is your chance to get your voices heard. Literally. Take five minutes and post a video.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Thanks,
It would be interesting to say the least though, what kind of arguments a scientist for McCain would put out.
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
[...] Science and the election: Cosmic Variance has a link to a site where scientists have posted videos explaining their choice in the 2008 U. S. Presidential election. [...]
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Well, he might boost the funding for geriatrics research …
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
It’s sobering to recall that the great majority of scientists and Nobel winners also favored Jimmy Carter (and Mondale, Clinton, Gore, and Kerry).
Fortunately, they’re not particularly influential with the American voter, and their endorsement might in fact decrease voter interest in a candidate.
It seems that most Americans agree with the late William Buckley’s view that it’s better to be ruled by the first 100 names in the Boston telephone directory than by the Harvard faculty.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
thanks for the link