Student Pugwash USA - Mission and Activities

Mission and Activities

The mission of Student Pugwash USA is "to promote social responsibility in science and technology." It seeks to achieve this by:

• "examining the societal impacts of science and technology;
• creating open and objective forums for debate;
• fostering the exchange of ideas among diverse communities;
• exploring solutions to current dilemmas in science and technology; and
• cultivating the analytical skills needed to address future challenges."

Activities have included regional, national and international conferences, speaker events at campuses through a national chapter network, and compilation of issue briefs on scientific and technical issues of social importance. Student Pugwash also maintains a student email list, a web log covering the ethical intersection of science and technology policy, and a database of socially responsible employers.

A science and technology election guide for the 2004 U.S. presidential election was profiled in the journal Science. This project was continued with the launch of From Electrons to Elections, a science and technology policy guide to the 2008 elections. From Electrons to Elections is a non-partisan resource designed to educate young voters on science, technology, and health issues and provide them with the platforms of the leading political candidates on these subjects.