The Center for Science and Democracy

The Center for Science and Democracy works to promote independent science, a responsive, transparent democracy, and evidence-based decisionmaking on issues that affect public health and safety.

The Center has its roots in the Scientific Integrity Program, a UCS initiative founded in 2004 to investigate and oppose political interference with federal science, which had reached then-unprecedented levels in the George W. Bush administration. In 2012, in response to growing concern about problems such as corporate misinformation, money in politics, and legislative attacks on science-based safeguards, the program was reconstituted with a broader focus as the Center for Science and Democracy.

Through a combination of original research and analysis, advocacy, and collaboration with partner organizations, the Center works to keep public science strong and independent, to ensure that scientific evidence plays its needed role in public decisionmaking, to promote democratic reforms that will ensure all voices are heard, to address environmental injustices, and to help scientists and communities work together to advance the public good.