WASHINGTON, DC -Stem cell research, climate change and many other scientific matters are currently attracting significant interest from both candidates for the U.S. presidency and the general public as science and technology issues increasingly motivate major policy decisions.

On September 30, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), will host a special Candidates' Forum on Science & Technology Policy, at which representatives of the presidential campaigns of incumbent George W. Bush and challenger John Kerry will discuss their plans and policies for science and technology.

Former House Science Committee Chairman Bob Walker will represent the Bush campaign. Mr. Walker is chairman of Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates. He has been described as "perhaps the best political and policy strategist and tactician in Washington." Speaking on behalf of the Kerry-Edwards campaign will be Henry Kelly. Dr. Kelly, a physicist, is former assistant director for technology of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He is currently president of the Federation of American Scientists.

In the 16 September 2004 issue of Science Express, the online publication of the journal, Science, published by AAAS, the world's largest general science society, the candidates responded to questions posed by Science's editorial and news staff. The first one asked for each camp's top priorities for Science and Technology.

According to Science Editor-in-Chief, Donald Kennedy, "President Bush emphasized bandwidth, research toward a hydrogen economy, and recruiting science and technology to fight terrorism. Candidate Kerry looked for a balanced research support portfolio, put changing stem cell policy near the top, and promised t
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29-Sep-2004