Concern about the impacts of political interference in science has led scientific associations and public interest groups to take action to defend science. Explore the links on this page to learn more about these organizations and their activities.

Integrity of Science Working Group

The Union of Concerned Scientists is part of the Integrity in Science Working Group, a coalition of organizations working to improve the way in which science informs government policy making. The coalition represents constituencies concerned with science, the environment, women's health, public health, civil liberties, open government, and the public interest.

Members of the working group include:
Advocates for Youth
American Civil Liberties Union
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Center for American Progress
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Defenders of Wildlife
Earthjustice
Endangered Species Coalition
Federation of American Scientists
Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR)
Government Accountability Project
National Coalition Against Censorship
National Council for Science and the Environment
National Partnership for Women and Families
National Women's Health Network
Natural Resources Defense Council
OMB Watch
Pacific Institute
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy
Public Citizen
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
Reproductive Health Technologies Project 
Society for Women's Health Research
Sunshine Week
Union of Concerned Scientists
World Wildlife Fund

Projects and Publications

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals has drafted a petition titled Preserving Core Values in Science, which to date has been signed by 85 organizations. The petition is particularly aimed at abuses of science at the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is a consumer advocacy organization whose twin missions are to conduct innovative research and advocacy programs in health and nutrition, and to provide consumers with current, useful information about their health and well being. CSPI maintains the Integrity of Science Database—the only publicly available database on the Web that provides conflict-of-interest data on scientists who engage in public policy debates. CSPI also hosts an annual scientific integrity conference.

The goal of the Conservation Support Network is to assist federal employees in promoting science-based solutions for the management of endangered wildlife. This program will better enable Defenders of Wildlife to work with federal employees on behalf of imperiled wildlife and advocate for a stronger role for science in decision-making.

The National Coalition Against Censorship's Knowledge Project examines the clash between First Amendment principles of free expression and government suppression or distortion of scientific information. The project has published a report (pdf) identifying and analyzing the governmental policies and practices that inhibit free speech for scientists.

The Pacific Institute's Integrity of Science Initiative responds the assault on science and scientific integrity in the public policy arena, especially on issues related to water, climate change, and security. They also maintain a blog.

Scientific societies are membership organizations that engage in scientific education and promotion for a particular scientific field or discipline. Many scientific associations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union, the American Public Health Association, and the Society for Conservation Biology have spoken out against the misuse of science by issuing statements, holding symposia at their annual meetings, or by creating programs to educate their members about the issue. For more information on how you can engage your scientific society to defend science, contact rsi@ucsusa.org.