Student Pugwash USA
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Student Pugwash USA (SPUSA) is a student organization, based in the United States, that aims to promote the socially responsible application of science and technology. The student members discuss the ethical, social and global implications of advances in these fields and explore the pursuit of socially responsible careers involving science and technology. SPUSA is part of the International Student/Young Pugwash group.
As a discussion forum, SPUSA does not adopt advocacy positions on substantive issues. The organization posits that, in order to create effective social change, students must first understand the issues at stake, then contemplate their ethical and moral responsibility to themselves and to society as a whole.
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History
Ethics in scientific and technological development inspired the formation of SPUSA. Specifically, Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell, and other eminent scientists' 1955 manifesto urging scientists to "think in a new way" about their moral responsibilities provided a major impetus for the organization. In 1957, the first Pugwash Conference (on Science and World Affairs) was held in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, bringing together some of the most prominent scientists of the day to address nuclear weapons issues and the social responsibility of scientists. SPUSA was founded by a student in 1979 to provide a form for young people to play a vital role in determining the socially responsible application of science and technology.
SPUSA is the US student affiliate of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, recipients of the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.
A long-standing icon of the organization has been Albert Einstein, for his commitment to advancing both science and its peaceful use.
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, and compilation of issue briefs on scientific and technical issues of social importance. A science and technology election guide for the 2004 U.S. residential election was profiled in the journal Science.
Pledge
To encourage commitment to socially responsible applications of science and technology, Student Pugwash USA offers the following pledge for individuals to sign:
- "I promise to work for a better world, where science and technology are used in socially responsible ways. I will not use my education for any purpose intended to harm human beings or the environment. Throughout my career, I will consider the ethical implications of my work before I take action. While the demands placed upon me may be great, I sign this declaration because I recognize that individual responsibility is the first step on the path to peace."
External links
- Student Pugwash USA (http://www.spusa.org)
- Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs (http://www.pugwash.org)
- Science 305 (5692): 1881b (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/305/5692/1881b?ck=nck) (subscription required)