Editing Union of Concerned Scientists

{{short description|Nonprofit science advocacy organization}}
{{for|the human-rights organization|Committee of Concerned Scientists}}
<div class=skin-invert-image>{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Union of Concerned Scientists
| image                    = Union of Concerned Scientists logo.svg
| alt                      = Logo of Union of Concerned Scientists
| formation                = 1969
| headquarters             = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| membership               = over 200,000{{cn|date=August 2024}}
| leader_title             = Exec. Dir.
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title2            = President
| leader_name2             = Dr. [[Gretchen Goldman]]<ref name="Goldman president">{{cite web |title=Noted Scientist, Former White House Official Takes Helm at Union of Concerned Scientists |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/noted-scientist-former-white-house-official-takes-helm-union-concerned-scientists |website=UCS |access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref>
| leader_title3            = Founder
| leader_name3             = [[Kurt Gottfried]], [[Henry Way Kendall]]
| website                  = {{official URL}}
}}</div>
The '''Union of Concerned Scientists''' ('''UCS''') is a nonprofit science advocacy organization based in the United States. The UCS membership includes many private citizens in addition to professional scientists. [[Anne Kapuscinski]], Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of the Coastal Science and Policy Program at the [[University of California, Santa Cruz]], chairs the UCS Board of Directors {{asof|2015|lc=y}}, having replaced [[James J. McCarthy]], Professor of Biological Oceanography at [[Harvard University]] and past president of the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]].<ref>[http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/anne-kapuscinski-new-union-of-concerned-scientists-board-chair-0636 Press release announcing Dr. Kapuscinski as the new Board chair]. ucsusa.org (2015-10-28). Retrieved 2015-02-25.</ref>

==History==
The Union of Concerned Scientists was founded in 1969 by faculty and students of the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. The organization's founding document says it was formed to "initiate a critical and continuing examination of governmental policy in areas where science and technology are of actual or potential significance" and to "devise means for turning research applications away from the present emphasis on military technology toward the solution of pressing environmental and social problems."<ref name=ucsabout>[http://www.ucsusa.org/about/founding-document-1968.html Founding Document: 1968 MIT Faculty Statement]. Ucsusa.org. Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref> The organization employs scientists, economists, and engineers engaged in environmental and security issues, as well as executive and support staff.<ref>[http://www.ucsusa.org/news/experts/ List of UCS experts] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019045614/http://www.ucsusa.org/news/experts/ |date=October 19, 2007 }}</ref>

One of the co-founders was physicist and [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel laureate]] [[Henry Way Kendall|Henry Kendall]], who served for many years as [[Board of directors|chairman of the board]] of UCS.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In 1992, Kendall presided over the [[World Scientists' Warning to Humanity]], which called for "fundamental change" to address a range of security and environmental issues. The document was signed by 1700 scientists, including a majority of the Nobel prize winners in the sciences.<ref name=warning>[http://www.ucsusa.org/about/1992-world-scientists.html World Scientists' Warning to Humanity (1992)]. Ucsusa.org (2015-12-22). Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

In 1997, the UCS presented their "World Scientists Call For Action" petition to world leaders meeting to negotiate the [[Kyoto Protocol]]. The declaration asserted, "A broad consensus among the world's climatologists is that there is now 'a discernible human influence on global climate.{{'"}} It urged governments to make "legally binding commitments to reduce industrial nations' emissions of heat-trapping gases", and called global warming "one of the most serious threats to the planet and to future generations."<ref name=1997_Call_for_Action>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucsusa.org/ucs/about/1997-world-scientists-call-for-action.html|title=World Scientists Call For Action|author=Union of Concerned Scientists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012163018/http://ucsusa.org/ucs/about/1997-world-scientists-call-for-action.html|archive-date=2007-10-12|quote=Projections indicate that demand for food in Asia will exceed the supply by 2010.}}</ref> The petition was signed by "more than 1,500 of the world's most distinguished senior scientists, including the majority of Nobel laureates in science."<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1997/10/971002070106.htm ''Science Daily''Oct. 2, 2007 article "World's Nobel Laureates And Preeminent Scientists Call On Government To Halt Global Warming"]. Sciencedaily.com. Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref><ref>[http://dieoff.org/page123.htm List of Selected Prominent Signatories with awards and affiliations]. Dieoff.org. Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref> When a petition that questioned the consensus was circulated by the [[Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine]], a small, privately-funded institute, was signed by more than 17,000 science graduates, UCS declared it a "deliberate attempt to deceive the scientific community with misinformation."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Petition strengthens hand of global warming sceptics|first=Colin|last=Macilwain|date=16 April 1998|journal=Nature|volume=392|issue=6677|pages=639|doi=10.1038/33487|bibcode=1998Natur.392Q.639M|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In August 2008, the UCS purchased billboards at the airports in [[Denver]], Colorado, and [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]], Minnesota, where the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] presidential conventions were to be held. The two nearly identical billboards showed the downtown areas of each convention city in a cross hairs, with the message that "when only one nuclear bomb could destroy a city" like Minneapolis or Denver, "we don't need 6,000." The name of Senator [[John McCain]] or Senator [[Barack Obama]] follows, with this admonition: "It's time to get serious about reducing the nuclear threat." The billboards were removed after a complaint from [[Northwest Airlines]], the official airline of the Republican convention. The UCS has accused Northwest, whose headquarters were in [[Minnesota]], of "taking on a new role as censor" and of having acted because it regarded the Minneapolis advertisement as "scary" and "anti-McCain."<ref name=nyt3332>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/us/politics/22nuke.html|title=Ads on Nuclear Threat Removed From Convention Airports|first=Larry|last=Rohter|date=21 August 2008|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=mplsstar>[http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/27115984.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUgOahccyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU Ad critical of McCain doesn't fly with NWA]. Startribune.com (2008-08-18). Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref><ref name=twincities>Hoppin, Jason. (2008-08-19) [http://www.twincities.com/ci_10240155 Northwest bans ad from airport]. Twincities.com. Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref>

In June 2020, a UCS staffer named Ruth Tyson resigned and sent a 17-page open letter expressing her opinions on racial inequality in the organization, saying that ideas of black workers were routinely dismissed or given low priority. After reading the letter, UCS president [[Ken Kimmell]] responded by saying the criticism was fair, and that he believed it was reflective of a wider culture of white supremacy in society, vowing to address issues and diversify the UCS workforce.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/07/22/liberal-progressive-racist-sierra-club-faces-its-white-supremacist-history/ |title=Liberal, progressive — and racist? The Sierra Club faces its white-supremacist history. |last1=Fears |first1=Daryl |last2=Mufson |first2=Steven |date=July 22, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521170113/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/07/22/liberal-progressive-racist-sierra-club-faces-its-white-supremacist-history/ |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> His successor, [[Johanna Chao Kreilick]], was chosen in part for "her track record of integrating racial justice into the work and culture of complex organizations".<ref name="President">{{cite news |title=UCS Announces Incoming President Johanna Chao Kreilick |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/ucs-announces-incoming-president-johanna-chao-kreilick |access-date=11 March 2022 |work=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=April 6, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2025, noted environmental scientist and policy advocate Dr. [[Gretchen Goldman]] became the organization's president.<ref name="Goldman president" /> 

==Funding and governance==
According to the [[George C. Marshall Institute]], the UCS was the fourth-largest recipient of foundation grants for "climate-related activities" in the period 2000–2002, a fourth of its $24M grant income being for that purpose.<ref name=marshall>[http://www.marshall.org/pdf/materials/289.pdf Funding Flows for Climate Change Research and Related Activities] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329205445/http://www.marshall.org/pdf/materials/289.pdf |date=March 29, 2007 }}</ref> [[Charity Navigator]] – an independent non-profit organization that evaluates American charities – gave the UCS a four out of four star rating in the [[fiscal year]] ending in September 2018, with an overall score of 91.85 out of 100.<ref name=charnav>{{cite web |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.history&orgid=5970#.VR0eoFxvwX4 |title=Union of Concerned Scientists |work=[[Charity Navigator]] |access-date=2 April 2015 |url-access=registration }}</ref> According to the organization's [[IRS Form 990]], the UCS received $39.9 million in total revenue and had $3.1 million in expenses and $48.8 million in net assets for the tax year beginning October 1, 2017, and ending September 30, 2018.<ref name="IRS990">{{cite web |title=Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2019/03/ucs-fy18-990.pdf |website=ucsusa.org |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

In February 2004, the UCS published "[[Scientific Integrity in Policymaking]]". The report criticized the administration of U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] for "politicizing" science. Some of the allegations include altering information in global warming reports by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA), and choosing members of scientific advisory panels based on their business interests rather than scientific experience.{{cn|date=August 2024}} In July 2004, the UCS released an addendum to the report in which they criticize the Bush administration and allege that reports on [[West Virginia]] [[strip mining]] had been improperly altered, and that "well-qualified" nominees for government posts such as Nobel laureate [[Torsten Wiesel]] were rejected because of political differences.{{cn|date=August 2024}} On April 2, 2004, [[John Marburger]], the director of the [[White House Office of Science and Technology Policy]], issued a statement claiming that incident descriptions in the UCS report are "false", "wrong", or "a distortion",<ref name=response>[http://www.ostp.gov/html/ucs/ResponsetoCongressonUCSDocumentApril2004.pdf UCS Response to Congress]. Ostp.gov. Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref> and dismissed the report as "biased".<ref name=wired>[https://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,62339,00.html Scientists: Bush Distorts Science] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221101440/http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,62339,00.html |date=February 21, 2007 }}</ref> UCS responded to the White House document by saying that Marburger's claims were unjustified.{{cn|date=August 2024}} UCS later wrote that from then on, the Bush administration was "virtually silent" about the issue.<ref name=policymaking>[http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1641 Scientific Integrity in Policymaking] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404170527/http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1641 |date=April 4, 2005 }}</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

==Issue stances==
UCS has been critical of proposed [[Generation III reactor]] designs. [[Edwin Lyman]], a senior staff scientist at UCS, has challenged specific cost-saving design choices made for both the [[AP1000]] and [[Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor]].<ref name=bs11>{{cite journal |title=Nuclear energy: Planning for the Black Swan |author=Adam Piore |date=June 2011 |journal=Scientific American }}</ref>

The UCS endorsed the 2007 [[Forests Now Declaration]], which calls for new market based mechanism to protect forests, as the group has recognised the importance of curbing [[deforestation]] to tackle climate change.<ref name=forestsnow>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071205032542/http://www.forestsnow.org/endorsers/?filter=NGO+and+Research+Institutes Forestsnow – Endorsers – NGO and Research Institutes]. Forestsnow.org. Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

The group also supports governmental incentives for people who want to preserve undeveloped land instead of selling it to developers.<ref name=book>Brower, Michael, Ph.D. and Leon, Warren, Ph.D. ''The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists'' 1999, Three Rivers Press.</ref>

It opposes the use of [[space weapons]], and work on reducing the number of [[nuclear weapons]] around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |title=Disarmament |url=https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/disarmament |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=United Nations |language=en}}</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

On October 30, 2006, the UCS issued a press release claiming that high-ranking members of the [[U.S. Department of the Interior]], including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks [[Julie A. MacDonald|Julie MacDonald]], systematically tampered with scientific data in an effort to undermine the protection of [[endangered species]] and the [[Endangered Species Act]].<ref name=endangered>[http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/systematic-interference-with.html Systematic Interference with Science at Interior Department Exposed – Emails and Edited Documents Show Evidence of Inappropriate Manipulation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104140608/http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/systematic-interference-with.html |date=November 4, 2006 }}</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

On December 11, 2006, the UCS issued a statement calling for the restoration of scientific integrity to federal policy-making, which was signed by 10,600 leading scientists including [[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureates]].<ref name=scientistscondemn>[http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/10600-scientists-condemn.html 10,600 Scientists Condemn Political Interference in Science – New Guide Documents Ongoing Federal Abuse of Science; 110th Congress Must Act]. Ucsusa.org (2015-12-22). Retrieved on 2015-12-26.</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

On May 23, 2007, the UCS cited a joint-study with [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] and issued a press release claiming that "any test of the [[National Missile Defense|U.S. missile defense system]] that does not show whether an interceptor missile can distinguish between real warheads and decoys is irrelevant" and "contrived," and called for an end to the taxpayer-funded program until the system can show an ability to actually address "real world threats."<ref name=contrived>[http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/another-contrived-missile-0033.html Another Contrived Missile Defense Test is Coming Up – Decoys Would Overwhelm System, Says Union of Concerned Scientists] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610121311/http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/another-contrived-missile-0033.html |date=June 10, 2007 }}</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

On June 21, 2007, a UCS report charged the EPA with political manipulation of scientific data to influence updated US [[ozone]] regulations: "The law says use the science, the science says lower the standard to safe levels," said Francesca Grifo, director of the UCS' Scientific Integrity Program. "In disregarding its own scientists' analysis, the EPA is risking the health of millions of Americans."<ref name=smog>[http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/epa-falls-short-0041.html EPA Falls Short of Scientists' Calls for Stricter Controls on Smog – Old standard not enough to protect public health] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713050229/http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/epa-falls-short-0041.html |date=July 13, 2007 }}</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

In March 2011, the UCS held daily telephone media briefings related to the [[Fukushima nuclear accident]].<ref>[http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_power/nuclear_power_risk/safety/japan-nuclear-crisis-briefings.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316220346/http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_power/nuclear_power_risk/safety/japan-nuclear-crisis-briefings.html|date=March 16, 2011}}</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2024}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Library resources box}}
* {{official website|}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.climatechoices.org/ |title = Climate Choices |date= 2006 |url-status= dead
 |archive-date= April 15, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080415214143/http://www.climatechoices.org/ |quote= To explain to people in the United States what climate change will mean for us, our children, and our grandchildren }}
* {{cite book |chapter-url= http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/ucs/cg-chapter-1.pdf |title= Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices |chapter= Chp 1: How Many Simple Things Do People Need to Do to Save the Planet? |series= Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists |first1= Michael |last1= Brower |first2= Warren |last2= Leon |publisher= Harmony |isbn= 978-0609802816 |date= 1999 |url-status= dead |archive-date=  May 11, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110511115129/http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/ucs/cg-chapter-1.pdf }}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Scientific organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Science advocacy organizations]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons]]
[[Category:Climate change organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Renewable energy organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Genetic engineering in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Cambridge, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Scientific organizations established in 1969]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Massachusetts]]