Over 70 Nobel Science Laureates Endorse Obama

Sam Gustin writes: It's no secret that, to many of his critics, George W. Bush hasn't exactly been the "science and technology president."

From stem-cell research to global warming to evolution, Bush and his allies have displayed a decidedly anti-science attitude, according to critics. Moreover, faced with the energy crisis, Bush and his allies have refused to make major investments in the technology needed to wean our country off fossil fuels and move to an economy powered by renewable energy sources.

For many in the tech world, Bush has been particularly disappointing, because scientific research has always been at the heart of America's technology leadership. From the advent of electricity to birth of the telegraph to the first microchips and microprocessors, and finally, to the internet, scientific research and development has powered the technological innovation that has made America the wealthiest, most advanced economy in the world.

Justifiably or not, many in science and technology circles believe that John McCain would not diverge from what they view as Bush's anti-science policies.

That may explain why over 70 Nobel Laureates in science have endorsed Barack Obama for president, including all three American Nobel Laureates in science for 2008: Martin Chalfie of Columbia University and Roger Tsien of the University of California at San Diego who shared the prize in Chemistry, and Yoichiro Nambu, of the University of Chicago, who won the prize in Physics.

"We have watched Senator Obama's approach to these issues with admiration," the group said is a statement released late Tuesday. "We especially applaud his emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation's competitiveness. In particular, we support the measures he plans to take -- through new initiatives in education and training, expanded research funding, an unbiased process for obtaining scientific advice, and an appropriate balance of basic and applied research -- to meet the nation's and the world's most urgent needs."

The complete statement below:

FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FROM 70 AMERICAN NOBEL LAUREATE SCIENTISTS

An Open Letter to the American People

This year's presidential election is among the most significant in our nation's history. The country urgently needs a visionary leader who can ensure the future of our traditional strengths in science and technology and who can harness those strengths to address many of our greatest problems: energy, disease, climate change, security, and economic competitiveness.

We are convinced that Senator Barack Obama is such a leader, and we urge you to join us in supporting him.

During the administration of George W. Bush, vital parts of our country's scientific enterprise have been damaged by stagnant or declining federal support. The government's scientific advisory process has been distorted by political considerations. As a result, our once dominant position in the scientific world has been shaken and our prosperity has been placed at risk. We have lost time critical for the development of new ways to provide energy, treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy.

We have watched Senator Obama's approach to these issues with admiration. We especially applaud his emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation's competitiveness. In particular, we support the measures he plans to take -- through new initiatives in education and training, expanded research funding, an unbiased process for obtaining scientific advice, and an appropriate balance of basic and applied research -- to meet the nation's and the world's most urgent needs.

Senator Obama understands that Presidential leadership and federal investments in science and technology are crucial elements in successful governance of the world's leading country. We hope you will join us as we work together to ensure his election in November.

Signed,

Alexei Abrikosov, Physics, 2003         Leland H. Hartwell, Medicine, 2001

Peter Agre, Chemistry, 2003          Herbert Hauptman, Chemistry, 1985

Sidney Altman, Chemistry, 1989         Dudley Herschbach, Chemistry, 1986

Philip W. Anderson, Physics, 1977          Roald Hoffmann, Chemistry, 1981

Richard Axel, Medicine, 2004         H. Robert Horvitz, Medicine, 2002

David Baltimore, Medicine, 1975         Louis Ignarro, Medicine, 1998

Baruj Benacerraf, Medicine, 1980         Eric R. Kandel, Medicine, 2000

Paul Berg, Chemistry, 1980         Har Gobind Khorana, Medicine, 1968

Günter Blobel, Medicine, 1999         Walter Kohn, Chemistry, 1998

J. Michael Bishop, Medicine, 1989         Roger Kornberg, Chemistry, 2006

N. Bloembergen, Physics, 1981         Leon M. Lederman, Physics, 1988

Michael S. Brown, Medicine, 1985         Anthony Leggett, Physics, 2003

Linda B. Buck, Medicine, 2004         Roderick MacKinnon, Chemistry, 2003

Mario R. Capecchi, Medicine, 2007        Craig C. Mello, Medicine, 2006

Martin Chalfie, Chemistry, 2008         Kary Mullis, Chemistry, 1993

Stanley Cohen, Medicine, 1986         Yoichiro Nambu, Physics, 2008

Leon Cooper, Physics, 1972        Marshall Nirenberg, Medicine, 1968

James W. Cronin, Physics, 1980         Douglas D. Osheroff, Physics, 1996

Robert F. Curl, Chemistry, 1996      Martin Perl, Physics    1995

Johann Diesenhofer, Chemistry, 1988   Stanley B. Prusiner, Medicine, 1997

John B. Fenn, Chemistry, 2002         Norman F. Ramsey, Physics, 1989

Edmond H. Fischer, Medicine, 1992      Robert Richardson, Physics, 1996

Val Fitch, Physics, 1980                Burton Richter, Physics, 1976

Jerome I. Friedman, Physics, 1990         Irwin Rose, Medicine, 1968

Murray Gell-Mann, Physics, 1969      Sherwood Rowland, Chemistry, 1995

Riccardo Giacconi, Physics, 2002    Richard R Schrock    Chemistry    2005

Ivar Giaever    Physics    1973        Oliver Smithies, Medicine, 2007

Walter Gilbert, Chemistry, 1980         George Smoot    Physics    2006

Alfred G. Gilman, Medicine, 1994         Joseph H. Taylor Jr., Physics, 1993

Donald A. Glaser, Physics, 1960         E. Donnall Thomas, Medicine, 1990

Sheldon L. Glashow, Physics, 1979        Charles H. Townes, Physics, 1964

Roy Glauber    Physics    2005        Roger Tsien, Chemistry, 2008

Joseph Goldstein, Medicine, 1985         Daniel C.Tsui, Physics, 1998

Paul Greengard, Medicine, 2000         Harold Varmus, Medicine, 1989

David Gross, Physics, 2004         James D. Watson, Medicine, 1962

Robert H. Grubbs, Chemistry, 2005         Eric Wieschaus, Medicine, 1995

Roger Guillemin, Medicine, 1977         Frank Wilczek, Physics, 2004

John L. Hall, Physics, 2005         Robert W. Wilson, Physics, 1978

The views expressed in this letter represent those of the signers acting as individual citizens. They do not necessarily represent the views of the institutions with which they are affiliated. The Medicine award is for "Physiology or Medicine."

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Laura Rich is a co-founder of Recessionwire, which provides news, advice, perspective and humor about the recession and the recovery.