President Rollin Richmond has endorsed ScienceDebate2008.com, a non-partisan citizens’ initiative pressing for a presidential science and technology debate on April 18 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, four days before the Pennsylvania primary.
The drive has the backing of such influential institutions as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, Friends of the Earth, Scientific American magazine, Union of Concerned Scientists, the Institute of Medicine and distinguished universities nationwide.
Dr. Richmond said it is imperative that Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee debate the federal role in crucial policy issues like scientific research, clean energy, water resources, environmental protection, climate change and health care.
“Most of the material things and the medical technology that Americans depend upon every day are the results of science,” noted the HSU President, himself a researcher in evolutionary biology who has a Ph.D. in genetics. “The future of science in America depends heavily on decisions that are made by the federal government. For our democracy to function effectively, its voters should know the views of the major presidential candidates about science policy in our nation. It is the intent of ScienceDebate2008 to explore those views,” he said.
Other universities backing the debate initiative include Stanford, Duke, UC Berkeley, Cornell, Columbia, New York University and the University of Arizona.
Government and industry leaders and Nobel Laureates have also endorsed it. It has bipartisan congressional support and the endorsements of Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and 1985 Nobel Peace Prize winner Eric Chivian, co-founder of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
Dr. Richmond’s embrace of the initiative stems from Humboldt State’s decades-old leadership in science and the environment, from strategic research to environmentally sound household living. The internationally-recognized Schatz Energy Research Center promotes renewable energy science through hydrogen, fuel cell, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy demonstration projects. HSU’s Environmental Resources Engineering program trains engineers to manage and solve complex environmental resource problems. The University’s student-led Campus Center for Appropriate Technology fosters new domestic ways of life with solar cooking and lighting, non-toxic paints, cold closets and bamboo construction techniques.
“HSU’s fine reputation rests significantly on the work of its faculty and students in the sciences,” President Richmond said. “It is important to the future of this institution that we understand how the next president of the United States is likely to view science and its role in helping to solve many of the pressing problems facing our species.”
For details, click on www.sciencedebate2008.com.