Dear Jack,

Bill Nye—Science Guy—here. I’m writing on behalf of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) with an urgent request for you to take action to help keep science in policymaking in your state.

It’s only been one year under our current administration, but they have already done more damage to science and democracy than perhaps any administration in modern history.

They have shuttered entire agencies, frozen billions of dollars essential to research and public health funding, and fired or otherwise pushed out hundreds of thousands of dedicated civil servants.

They’ve rolled back pollution standards, lied about climate science, and boosted fossil fuel profits at the expense of people, wildlife, and our environment.

And they’ve made changes to hundreds of public health, safety, and environmental rules without public input—even when it’s required by law.

Now, we need to be reaching out to our elected officials to ensure that they keep science in policymaking.

Tell your state officials to follow the best available science and uphold the democratic process in all state policymaking.

You and I both know that what’s happening right now is not normal, and it is not okay.

Like so many authoritarian leaderships, they want to be the sole source of truth—and know that independent science threatens that power.

That’s why the work being done at UCS is more critical than ever. If we want to protect our communities, our democracy, and our planet, we must fight back against these attacks.

Please join me by telling your elected state officials to keep science and transparency strong.

The scientific community and UCS supporters are and always have been stronger
together.

As UCS President and CEO Dr. Gretchen Goldman says in her recent article, co-authored in Science magazine: “The ability to tell the truth, even (or especially) when it does not suit any particularly partisan aims, is an essential prerequisite for a free society. Scientists can leverage their substantial social standing and trustworthiness to preserve this vital ingredient.”

It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment for protecting science and our democracy. Now is the time to join together and demand that elected leaders at all levels represent our communities and prioritize public safeguards informed by science, to ensure that our democracy remains and our voices are heard.

We need your help holding these protections and holding the line against these attacks on science for the public good. The founders included Science in the Constitution. They knew its value for our quality of life and international competitiveness.

Join me today in defending science and democracy.

Sincerely,

Bill Nye

Science Educator

National Advisory Board Member for the Union of Concerned Scientists

P.S. We urgently need to reach our state elected officials to encourage science-backed policymaking. Take action today.