Student Survey for Science & Technology Policy Guide
(UPDATE: The Oct 15th AIBS Public Policy Report also carries a story on the Student Pugwash USA survey.)
I'm pleased to note here AIBS's and COPUS's association with Student Pugwash USA, a DC-based nonprofit with a mission to prepare science, technology and policy students to make social responsibility a guiding focus of their academic and professional endeavors. I had the pleasure of giving a lunch-hour talk to their group a few months ago, along with Erika Shugart, Deputy Director of the Koshland Science Museum, National Academy of Sciences.
SPUSA encourages young people to:
- Examine the societal impacts of science and technology
- Create open and objective forums for debate
- Foster the exchange of ideas among diverse communities
- Explore solutions to current dilemmas in science and technology
- Cultivate the analytical skills needed to address future challenges
Indeed, the SPUSA pledge program embodying these principles was initiated in response to the awarding of the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize to the Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs and Sir Joseph Rotblat, a founding member of the Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs.
Notable among SPUSA's current activities is their development of a web-based 2008 Science & Tech Policy Guide for the upcoming U.S. presidential elections to enable students to make informed choices and express their views on critical science policy issues. Leading up to the publication of the guide, Student Pugwash USA is conducting a survey of 18-25 year olds on Facebook to gather data on attitudes toward science policy issues. I encourage broad participation in this online survey so as to help inform the creation of the policy guide.