On Stepping Up And Being Bold: Defending Science and Making Progress in the Current Climate
As President of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Dr. Gretchen Goldman is leading one of the world's most important scientific advocacy organizations in unprecedented times. She will discuss how UCS is taking the lead on these challenges and opportunities.
—Kyle Meng, Associate Professor, Bren School
ABSTRACT
Throughout history, scientists and technical experts have played different roles and scientific and academic institutions have long been stable, independent pillars of society. Today, the US science and technology enterprise is being disrupted in unprecedented ways, with drastic reductions in Federal research investments, reduction in Federal staff capacity and expertise, and dissolvement of Federal science programs, scientific assessments, and science activities across governmental agencies. What is the role of the scientist when scientific institutions are under threat? How can the scientific community respond to the speed, scope, and severity of threats to the US science and technology enterprise in the current moment? What lessons can we draw from history, from the interplay between science and democratic institutions and activities? This talk will characterize the current moment for the US science and technology landscape, with a focus on Federal government actions, and explore ways that the scientific community is and could respond in to preserve key functions, continue progress on evidence-based policy across levels of government, and reimagine scientific institutions that best serve the public interest.
BIO
Dr. Gretchen T. Goldman is the President and CEO of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Previously, she served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as the assistant director for environmental science, engineering, policy, and justice, where she led Biden-Harris Administration efforts on scientific integrity, science and environmental justice, Indigenous Knowledge, and air quality and community health. She also recently served at the US Department of Transportation as the climate change research and technology director. She holds a PhD and MS in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a BS in atmospheric science from Cornell University.