Science Idol: the Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest.

[bloom]

Entries are due by July 31, 2006.

Consider this your audition—Enter Today!

Content Guidelines
The subject of the cartoons must relate to political interference in science in the federal government. UCS defines political interference in science as action by elected officials or political appointees to manipulate, alter, or suppress independent government science or inappropriately restrict or censor government scientists. This definition is distinct from the ethics of scientists themselves; direct corporate influence over science; or more ethical debates on issues like stem cell research.

Cartoons may address many aspects of scientific integrity, including:

Freedom of scientific speech
Suppression, distortion, and manipulation of scientific information
Examples of how science has been misused
The tension between politics and science
The importance of science to our health, safety, and environment
The effect of political interference on our nation's scientific capacity
The impact of the abuse of science on our everyday lives
The idea of scientific openness
Any other related issue
Cartoons may address political interference in science in general; specific misuses of science on environmental, public health, safety and security, or other topics; the treatment and rights of federal government scientists; or other related issues.

Who's Eligible?
The contest is open to anyone currently residing in the United States—with the exception of employees of the Union of Concerned Scientists, the celebrity judges, and their immediate families/households, of course. Professional cartoonists are also not able to enter Science Idol—they have their own Scientific Integrity Professional Cartoon Contest.

---------

For more see:

http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/science_idol/