Science Denial and Science Policy
Science is increasingly vital to policymaking, but denial of basic aspects of science is increasingly well-organized, holding back science-based policies. Whether it's creationism attacking state and local education policy, global warming denial distracting attention from the need for effective solutions, or anti-vaccine activism undermining vital public health programs, the public's misunderstanding about science have dire consequences for society. Non-scientists and scientists alike are joining to defend science and to clear the ground for science-based policies. This panel of scientists and scientific policymakers will discuss ways that the general public can ensure that their government is informed by honest science.
Michael Stebbins is Assistant Director for Biotechnology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Before joining OSTP he was the Director of Biology Policy for the Federation of American Scientists. He is a co-founder of Scientists and Engineers for America, and a former Adjunct Professor of Bioethics at UPenn and Senior Editor at Nature Genetics. He has worked as a Legislative Fellow for Senator Harry Reid and on policy issues at the National Human Genome Research Institute. He received his BS at SUNY Stony Brook and Ph.D. in Genetics while working at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Rehm was a plaintiff in the seminal court case which found "intelligent design" to be a form of creationism, and inappropriate for science classrooms. Rehm, a science teacher and a parent, joined other parents and teachers in a lawsuit after their school district ordered science teachers to attack evolution in favor of "intelligent design." While the court case proceeded, Rehm joined a slate of candidates for school board which swept the creationists from office. He is currently president of the Dover Area School District School Board, a science teacher, a father, and remains active in his church's Sunday school.
Stebbins is Assistant Director for Biotechnology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Before joining OSTP he was the Director of Biology Policy for the Federation of American Scientists. He is a co-founder of Scientists and Engineers for America, and a former Adjunct Professor of Bioethics at UPenn. He has worked as a Legislative Fellow for Senator Harry Reid and on policy issues at the National Human Genome Research Institute. He received his BS at SUNY Stony Brook and Ph.D. in Genetics while working at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Mark Sumner is the author of 32 novels, he's a past winner of Writers of the Future, and has been nominated for both the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards. In his 48 years, he's been a newspaper photographer, a coal miner, a software designer, a geologist, and a perpetual student. He lives with his wife in a log cabin south of St. Louis. He's worked on campaigns for thirty years, and has never risen higher than knocker on doors and maker of annoying phone calls.
Susan Wood is Research Professor at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. She was Assistant Commissioner for Women’s Health at FDA from 2000-2005 when she resigned on principle over continued delay of approval of emergency contraception over-the-counter. She was featured on 60 Minutes and Nightline. Previously, Dr. Wood worked at the DHHS Office on Women’s Health. From 1990-1995, Dr. Wood worked for the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. Previously, Dr. Wood was a research scientist at John Hopkins University School of Medicine; she received her PhD biology from Boston University.
