Scientists and Engineers for Change - a newly formed association of American science and engineering professionals - advocates that the next President restore science and technology to their rightful role as key building blocks of our future. To learn more about why science matters in the 2004 election and how John Kerry and George W. Bush's plan for science differs, explore this website and sign-up to take part in the public events sponsored by Scientists and Engineers for Change this fall.

If you believe, as we do, that wise federal management of science and technology is essential for America's future, you should pay close attention to the 2004 elections. A great deal is at stake.

• Innovation lies at the heart of American Economic growth and the creation of rewarding jobs. But our legacy of discovery and invention is under threat. Kerry has detailed plans for strengthening private research and funding balanced growth in federal R&D. The Bush administration plans to cut research budgets in 21 of 24 federal agencies.
• We're losing momentum in health research. Kerry proposes ethically managed, vigorous growth in health research. Ideologues in the Bush administration have restricted stem cell research and the administration plans to cut the NIH budget.
• Affordable strategies for establishing energy independence and strengthening the environment depend on technology. Kerry proposes a vigorous program of research and incentives for energy efficiency and new energy supplies, while the Bush administration energy plan increases our dependence upon Middle East oil and ignores mounting threats to our environment, including climate change.

• It's Essential to Improve the Education of Scientists and Engineers. US schools face unprecedented competition from first-rate universities worldwide, minorities and women continue to be underrepresented in US science and engineering. Immigration policies are choking US access to world research.
• National Defense and Homeland Security Depend on Basic and Applied Research. Critical technologies to strengthen intelligence, detect and react to use of unconventional weapons, and other areas will suffer by dramatic cuts in basic research in DoD while research funds are squandered on Bush administration's ideologically driven priorities such as its missile defense system.
• Unbiased Science and Technology Advice is Essential for Effective Presidential Leadership. Kerry has promised to appoint a Science Advisor immediately upon taking office. The Bush Administration has demoted the Presidential Science Advisor, waited 6 months before appointing a Director of OSTP, and has been continuously criticized for putting politics before scientific consensus.

SEFC believes science and technology are crucial building blocks for American prosperity that have not be adequately managed in the last four years. We dispatch leading scientists and engineers to college campuses and other places they can talk about embryonic stem cell research, global climate change and the other science and technology issues that the next president will have to address. Here are some ways you can help us:

1. Give us your e-mail address (in the box to your right) so that we can stay in touch with you about our activities.
2. Cut-and-paste the following message into an e-mail and send it to 50 friends: "Please join me in signing up for http://mellicant.com/sefc. It is a new political committee that believes research has been undermined and scientific integrity compromised by the Bush Administration. I'm going to give them a few dollars to reach more people and I hope you will, too."
3. Become a member of Scientists and Engineers for Change by making a contribution of any amount via Paypal and get a thank you message in return from Vint Cerf, father of the Internet, that is suitable for printing out and tacking to your the wall of your cubicle or forwarding to your friends.
4. Put "Scientists and Engineers for Change" or "S&E4C" in your profile on Tribe.Net, Friendster.com, Ryze.com, LinkedIn.com, Tickle.com, MySpace.com or any other social networking site and find a couple dozen other people who think Bush's disrespect of reason and rational thinking should be repaid tenfold at the polls on election day. If you don't have a profile on one of these sites go make one.
5. Write a letter to the editor of you local paper critical about one of the key science issues in the 2004 election.
6. Volunteer to join us on the campaign trail in Minnesota, Virginia, Ohio or Florida from October 23rd through election day to help get out the vote. If you live in one of these states and can host one or more guests please let us know that.

With your help, we'll make substantial progress toward change in our nation's science and technology policies next month.