May 14, 2012
DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY
Robot Soldiers Will Be a Reality—and a Threat
Given the obvious dangers, fully autonomous offensive lethal weapons should never be permitted, argues Jonathan Moreno in a Wall Street Journal opinion editorial.
Science & Society Articles
May 8, 2012
INTERACTIVE TIMELINE
The Slow but Deliberate March Toward Scientific Integrity
Though progress has been slow, history will judge new agency scientific integrity policies not by the speed with which they were developed but by the lasting impact that they make.
May 1, 2012
WOMEN IN STEM
The White House on Why We Need More Women in STEM Education
The Obama administration articulates its support for women in STEM careers with an event at the White House and the release of a new video, but much remains to be done to maximize the participation of women in the innovation economy.
April 12, 2012
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Is Science Getting Easier, Harder, or Both?
As we dig into the weeds of the nature of reality, reality is ever more stubborn about giving up its secrets. Answering the big questions will require new policies and new methods that are now only in the process of development.
April 11, 2012
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Consumer Data Privacy Codes of Conduct
Peter Swire discusses the balance of privacy and commercial usefulness of de-identified data in testimony before the Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
April 5, 2012
SCIENCE EDUCATION
Anti-Evolution ‘Monkey Bill’ Poised To Become Law In Tennessee
A bill that would create broad new legal immunities for school teachers to deny accepted science on biological evolution, climate change, the chemical origins or life, and human cloning inches its way toward the governor’s desk.
March 30, 2012
SPACE AND SOCIETY
Can Mars Save American Science From American Politics?
New evidence indicates that support for science in America is in trouble, and SP Editor-In-Chief Jonathan Moreno examines whether a high-minded national goal such as a manned mission to Mars can change that.
March 23, 2012
NEUROETHICS
Neuroscience, Ethics, and National Security: The State of the Art
The close relationship between neuroscience and the national security and intelligence organizations in the United States raises ethical issues that need to be addressed if we are to come to a pragmatic synthesis of ethical accountability and national security.
March 22, 2012
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Good Transformations
A panel of experts at a recent workshop discussed whether it is possible for policymakers to encourage “transformative research” in the scientific community, or whether the term can only be applied in retrospect.
March 13, 2012
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
New Lows In The War On Science — But This Time Science Wins One
Earlier this year, mining industry representatives threatened legal action against peer-reviewed science journals unless they agreed to “reconsider” publication of articles linking certain mining activities with lung cancer.
March 8, 2012
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
New Study Reveals Distressing Trends in Work-Life Balance for Women and Men in STEM Fields
A new report by the Association for Women in Science released on International Women’s Day suggests work-life balance issues are keeping women from making the most of their science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
March 1, 2012
SCIENCE PRIORITIES
Science: For Science’s or Society’s Sake?
Whether or not science vs. society is a false dichotomy, scientists need to ‘get their minds right’: the National Science Foundation’s Broader Impacts criterion is here to stay.
February 14, 2012
EDUCATION
Mississippians Are Ready for Comprehensive Sex Education
Public polling suggests Mississippians are ready for a science-based approach to sex education, but with a June 2012 deadline approaching to set policy, will the school districts listen?
February 9, 2012
BIOETHICS
“Brave New World” Turns 80
Huxley’s “Brave New World” remains a success not because of the accuracy of the technological future it foretells (indeed it misses the mark in many ways), but because of what it says about the longing for love and humanity in any age.
February 6, 2012
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Tackling 21st-Century Tech Risks
From nanotech to biotech, we stand to benefit greatly from discoveries on the frontiers of technology. But there are risks too, and a bipartisan consensus on how to manage these technological risks in the 21st century is quietly emerging. One-size fits all is out. Evidence-based risk management is in.
January 24, 2012
INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS
Rewiring the Federal Government for Competitiveness
A proposal to elevate the Department of Commerce by consolidating federal trade, technology, workforce training, and economic development programs into one department with one mission: national competitiveness through innovation.
January 19, 2012
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Online Piracy, Intellectual Property, and the Great Blackout of 2012
A day of online activism by Internet titans, bloggers, and citizens may have shifted the political calculus of controversial online piracy and intellectual property legislation.
January 12, 2012
SPACE RESEARCH
What Have we Learned from the Science Performed on the International Space Station?
What research happens on the ISS and why don’t we hear about it on the news? Former NASA engineer who helped design the ISS life support systems offers a couple answers.
January 11, 2012
INVESTING IN SCIENCE
A Sort of Happy New Year for the New Science Budget
Despite the gloomy budget picture, some science and innovation programs will actually gain ground in 2012. ARPA-E and the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences came out ahead, while the Education Department’s research programs slipped.
November 30, 2011
SCIENCE IN SOCIETY
What Would Ben Franklin Do?
Besides his well-known exploits as a printer, diplomat, politician, philosopher, and ladies man, Ben Franklin was also deeply interested in energy efficiency, environmental science, and public health.
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What We Work On
Science, Innovation, and Competitiveness
Science Progress and American Progress's Doing What Works project teamed up to produce a set of policy proposals that the Obama administration and Congress can adopt to reinvest in the building blocks of American science, innovation, and economic competitiveness. Read the overview of the five reports.
What We Believe
Science Progress proceeds from the propositions that scientific inquiry is among the finest expressions of human excellence, that it is a crucial source of human flourishing, a critical engine of economic growth, and must be dedicated to the common good. Scientific inquiry entails global responsibilities. It should lead to a more equitable, safer, and healthier future for all of humankind.