Table of Contents
We’ve spent fifty proud years tackling the world’s most pressing issues.
The Union of Concerned Scientists was founded in 1969 by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That year, the Vietnam War was at its height and Cleveland’s heavily polluted Cuyahoga River had caught fire. Appalled at how the United States government was misusing science, the UCS founders, including Henry Kendall and Kurt Gottfried, drafted a statement calling for scientific research to be directed away from military technologies and toward solving pressing environmental and social problems.
We remain true to that founding vision. Throughout our history, UCS has followed the example set by the scientific community: we share information, seek the truth, and let our findings guide our conclusions.
It’s a powerful formula.
By mobilizing scientists and combining their voices with those of advocates, educators, business people, and other concerned citizens, UCS has built a reputation for fairness and accuracy and amassed an impressive history of accomplishments.
Major accomplishments
![Two men with white USNRC hard hats look at document](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-03/ucsusa_23775403-1500x900.jpg?itok=Lm-VyrwP)
UCS Fully Divests From Fossil Fuel Interests
![](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/attach/Timeline/ucsusa_19544167_food.jpg?itok=jio-2_2c)
Spotlighted How Restructuring US Food Policy Could Save Trillions
![](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/attach/Timeline/ucsusa_27076094_Full.jpg?itok=2HSuXliH)
Exposed Misinformation and Media Bias
![](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/attach/Timeline/ucsusa_77026498_Medium.jpg?itok=xvnhu2BV)
Won Protection for Scientific Whistleblowers
![Two men in white tyvek suits and masks](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-03/ucsusa_76560398-1500x900.jpg?itok=W07xiCub)
Provided Critical, Independent Expertise on the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
![President Barack Obama signing the START treat](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2019-09/President_Barack_Obama_signs_the_New_START_Treaty%2C_February_2%2C_2011.jpg?itok=6GR1ZMAr)
Helped Reduce Nuclear Stockpiles in the United States & Russia
![](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/attach/Timeline/ucsusa_68712417.jpg?itok=hR941z4A)
Dramatically Cut Emissions from Cars and Trucks
![](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/attach/Timeline/ucsusa_11103452_Full.jpg?itok=bQbE9_s-)
Halved Global Warming Emissions in the Northeast
![Person enters a door at the Union of Concerned Scientists office](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-03/ucs-doorway-with-name_1500x900.jpg?itok=RL7SVMjp)
UCS opens its Midwest office in Chicago.
![Rainbow over waterfalls](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-03/rainbow-over-waterfalls.jpg?itok=ii_5SGPz)