Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) was an organization focused on promoting sound science in American government, and supporting candidates who understand science and its applications. SEA was formed on September 27, 2006, and describes itself as non-partisan.
SEA is organized as a 501(c)(3) organization, and represents a reorganization of Scientists and Engineers for Change, an organization founded in 2004 to support the election of John Kerry.Science 2006, Seed Magazine, October 6, 2006 Its current executive director is Tom Price. SEA operates a wiki site called the Science, Health And Related Policies (SHARP) Network, which allows members to track and contribute information on Congressional representatives, candidates, and science policy issues. SEA is associated with a 501(c)(4) organization known as the SEA Action Fund,SEA Action Fund, March 4, 2008 whose president is geneticist Michael Stebbins.
Political positions
Bill of Rights for Scientists and Engineers A bill of rights which outlines the principles of the organization states:Bill of Rights for Scientists and Engineers , SEA Website, February 19, 2008
Mission statement The organization's mission statement states:SEA Mission Statement , SEA Website, February 19, 2008
Programs
SHARP Network The Science, Health and Related Policies Network is a wiki to track congressional representatives, senators, and candidates as well as presidential candidates.
Innovation & the Elections 2008 Scientists and Engineers for America organized a coalition of 19 science organizationsInnovation & the Elections 2008 , 18 June 2008. to submit a set of 7 questions to all the candidates for United States Congress. The coalition includes groups such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Sciences, and Science Debate 2008.
Campaign Education and Training The Campaign Education and Training project is a workshop aimed at training science-oriented professionals to run for public office. Along with the workshop, SEA also hosts an online advice column called Campaign Lab for scientists to ask political experts on different aspects of running for political office.
SEA chapters SEA chapters provide a way for students and members of the scientific community to influence the interface between science and politics. These chapters develop the means for both current and future scientists and engineers to influence the policy arena and expand the forum through which SEA involves scientists and engineers in the political and civic process.
Board of Advisers Among others, the SEA Board of Advisers includes noted Nobel Laureates such as:
Peter Agre Sidney Altman Philip W. Anderson Johann Deisenhofer Alfred Gilman
Douglas D. Osheroff Martin Perl Burton Richter Harold E. Varmus
Criticism Soon after its foundation, the organization was accused of partisanship by several conservative media outlets. An editorial in The Wall Street Journal criticised the organization for seeming to stifle scientific dissent:
In a rebuttal posted on the SEA website, founding executive director Michael Brown stated:
See also Politicization of science Scientific Integrity in Policymaking Union of Concerned Scientists Federation of American Scientists
References
External links Science under ‘political assault,’ group says Kansas City Star, September 28, 2006 Scientists Form Group to Support Science-Friendly Candidates, The New York Times, September 28, 2006 (inactive) Scientists and Engineers for America Action Fund (inactive)