ScienceDebate.org 2012 | Steering committee

Are we losing what made America great?
A Debate on Science and America’s Future

"Given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness, we call for public debates in which the U.S. presidential and congressional candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment, Health and Medicine, and Science and Technology Policy."

Most Recent

GOP Not Listening to Its Own Scientists on Climate Change Feb 22, 2012
Science Is Political Feb 20, 2012
Santorum: Democrats are "anti-science," not me Feb 20, 2012
Canadian government is 'muzzling its scientists' Feb 19, 2012
Science Debate taping at AAAS Feb 18, 2012

Steering committee

*the six co-founders

Vern Ehlers (co-chair), Former Republican congressman from Michigan

Rush Holt (co-chair), Democratic congressman from New Jersey

Norm Augustine, former CEO of Lockheed Martin; former Undersecretary of the Army

Arne Carlson, former Republican Governor of Minnesota; former chairman of American Express Funds board

*Matthew Chapman, writer/director, science writer; President of Science Debate, Inc.

*Austin Dacey, contributing editor, The Skeptical Inquirer magazine

Calvin DeWitt, President, Academy of Evangelical Scientists and Ethicists

James Jensen, Director of Congressional and Government Affairs, The National Academies

*Sheril Kirshenbaum, marine biologist, University of Texas; science blogger

*Lawrence Krauss, Professor of Earth and Space Exploration and Physics, Arizona State University

Alan Leshner, CEO, American Association for the Advancement of Science; Executive Publisher, Science magazine

James McCarthy, Chairman, AAAS; board member, Union of Concerned Scientists; Professor of Oceanography, Harvard University

*Chris Mooney, science writer and science blogger, The Intersection

*Shawn Lawrence Otto, writer/director/producer; science writer, political consultant; entrepreneur; CEO of Science Debate, Inc.

Deborah Wince-Smith, President, Council on Competitiveness

2009 Additions

The following steering committee members were added at the January 2009 meeting:

Darlene Cavalier, Founder, ScienceCheerleader.com

Ira Flatow, Producer and Host of Science Friday on NPR's Talk of the Nation

David Guston, Co-Director of the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University

Angie McQuaig, Director, Camp Inquiry, Center for Inquiry

Organizational cosponsors

The U.S. National Academies

The American Association for the Advancement of Science