Union of Concerned Scientists annual contest featured

Cartoonist invited into contest to address clash of science, politics
By Rich Davis
Evansville Courier & Press August 10, 2010

PR: Science Idol - And the winner is...

Recently, we invited you to help choose the winner in Science Idol: Celebrity Edition, a cartoon contest designed to poke fun at the not-so-humorous problem of political interference in science. After almost 10,000 votes were cast, Jesse Springer of Eugene, OR, came out on top. His cartoon will grace the cover of this year's Scientific Integrity Calendar:

Jesse is a graphic designer and part-time editorial cartoonist who recognizes the need for oversight of the Obama administration and Congress. "This is a really tricky time for those who hoped that Obama's election was going to be a start of something new," he said. "We need to point out the commitments that they made and hold the administration accountable to them."

Click to see all 12 contestants and learn more about Jesse.

The Scientific Integrity Calendar
In addition to providing you with a year's worth of laughs, the 2010 Scientific Integrity Calendar is a valuable educational tool, highlighting the need for the Obama administration and Congress to create a thriving federal scientific enterprise.

You can order your 2010 Scientific Integrity Calendar here. It makes a great gift to your scientist and non-scientist friends and family who believe that policy decisions should be guided by the best available science. The calendars are just $10 each, with discounts for UCS members and bulk orders and proceeds support the Union of Concerned Scientists.

I hope you enjoy the cartoons and the calendar!

Sincerely,

Michael Halpern
National Field Organizer
Scientific Integrity Program

P.S. Defending science from political interference will require the persistent and energetic engagement of both scientists and citizens. As a member of the UCS action network, we'll continue to keep you informed about ways you can help support independent science. Scientists, engineers, and health professionals are invited to join our Restoring Scientific Integrity Network.

Science Idol cartoon contest underway again

The Union of Concerned Scientists is running its annual editorial cartoon contest now. There are 12 cartoons to choose from.

Justin Bilicki wins Science Idol contest

The Union of Concerned Scientists picked Justin Bilicki as winner for its 2008 "Science Idol: Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest." You can see the cartoon online at www.ucsusa.org/scienceidol and get more information on the contest from their press release which notes that a calendar of the cartoon is for sale as well. Bilicki wins a trip to Washington, DC -- that lucky devil.