“Come on Civic Minded Five! LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!”
– from “The Tick” cartoon
Scientists are a Community, with the power to organize politically and affect Governmental policy. There are many organizations, and can be an endless number of organizations, because they have the propensity to forge alliances. The important thing is for Scientific thought to direct policy through reason, empiricism, and healthy debate.
Browse these organizations for the one that best speaks to you:
The American Association for the Advancement of Science “Triple A-S” (AAAS)
From the AAAS Website: “An international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. They publish the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science world wide.”
Founded in 1848.
Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
From the CSPI Website: “A consumer advocacy organization whose twin missions are to conduct innovative research and advocacy programs in health and nutrition, and to provide consumers with current, useful information about their health and well-being.”
Founded in 1971.
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
From the FAS Website: “A nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501c3 organization founded in 1945 as the Federation of Atomic Scientists. Our founders were members of the Manhattan Project, creators of the atom bomb and deeply concerned about the impations of its use for the future of humankind. FAS is the oldest organization dedicated to ending the worldwide arms race and avoiding the use of nuclear weapons for any purpose.”
National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
From the NAS Website: “A private, non-profit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.”
NAS publishes PNAS
National Center for Science Education (NCSE)
From the NCSE Website: “A nonprofit, tax-exempt membership organization working to defend the teaching of evolution against sectarian attack. We also work to increase public understanding of evolution and science ‘as a way of knowing.’”
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
From the NIH Website: “The steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. It is an Agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH is the Federal focal point for health research.”
Rep. Henry A. Waxman
Representative Henry Waxman from the 30th District of California has become known as the strongest advocate of Science in the government. Scientific American Magazine has called him “Science’s Political Bulldog.” He has spearheaded investigations into the protection of Scientific Integrity in America and was the instigator of the Politics & Science Report:
From the Politics and Science Website: “The American people depend upon federal agencies to develop science-based policies that protect the nation’s health and welfare. Recently, however, leading scientific journals have begun to question whether scientific integrity at federal agencies has been sacrificed to further a political and ideological agenda.”
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
From the UCS Website: “An independent nonprofit alliance of more than 100,000 concerned citizens and scientists. We augment rigorous scientific analysis with innovative thinking and committed citizen advocacy to build a cleaner, healthier environment and a safer world.”
Discipline Specific:
European Life Scientist Organization (ELSO)
From the ELSO Website: “Initial goal of ELSO will be to organize meetings in European cities that each year provide a high profile international forum serving the interests of our scientific community.”
North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)
From the PICES Website: “An intergovernmental scientific organization, established in 1992 to promote and coordinate marine research in the norther North Pacific and adjacent seas. Its present members are Canada, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America.”