Science debates

Thanks to Sminthia, over at the Sminthophile (that means a lover of mice to you and me), I learned of the call for a bipartisan presidential debate focusing on science and technology. Here is an excerpt from their website:

Science Debate 2008 is a grassroots initiative spearheaded by a growing number of scientists and other concerned citizens. The signatories to our "Call for a Presidential Debate on Science & Technology" include Nobel laureates and other leading scientists, presidents of universities, congresspersons of both major political parties, business leaders, religious leaders, former presidential science advisors, the editors of America's major science journals, writers, and the current and several past presidents of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among many others.

We have noticed that science and technology lie at the center of a very large number of the policy issues facing our nation and the world - issues that profoundly affect our national and economic security as science and technology continue to transform our lives. No matter one's political stripe, these issues pose important pragmatic policy challenges.

So if you'd like to see the presidential candidates engaged in a debate about science policy, head over to their website and click to support Science Debate 2008.

In keeping with the theme of this post, I present you with an amusing demonstration of mitosis (Courtesy of The New Scientist's guide to the best videos online):