Stories

A recently released digital magazine, The Future of Science in America: The Election Issue, explores the connection between science, politics, policy, and the election through different perspectives, including articles and comments from members of the Civic Science Fellows network. The magazine is a collaboration between the Aspen Institute’s Science and Society Program, GOOD Worldwide, and LeapsMag and is supported by Civic Science Fellows Funding Partners the Rita Allen Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

In the issue: 94 percent of Democrats and 93 percent of Republicans agree that it is important for the United States to be a global leader in scientific research, according to a new national survey by Host Partner Research!America showing widespread support for science across party lines.

“Adults have news programs and documentaries and educational YouTube channels, but no Sesame Street. So why don’t we?”
—WGBH Civic Science Fellow Adnaan Wasey, exploring the idea of using television to make science engaging and accessible to adults

“In addition to credibility, we’ve learned that potential collaborators also care about whether others will be responsive to their goals and constraints, understand their point of view, and will be enjoyable to interact with.”
—Resource Partner Adam Seth Levine of Research4Impact on the science of collaboration and why diverse individuals choose to work together

“I do believe in the promise of what the future can hold for us in terms of both science and tradition. The two can complement each other and are not at odds, even though we tend to think of sustainability in scientific terms. And yes, science can help us achieve sustainability through things like solar tech, health innovations, and natural sciences. But I’m talking about sustainability overall and of the Earth: sustainability of water, energy, and agriculture, but also of human capacity and Navajo culture.”
—Nonabah Lane of Navajo Power-New Mexico and Navajo Ethno-Agriculture (and a recent Civic Science Learning Lab speaker) on efforts to balance Indigenous knowledge with science and technology