180 Years of Standing Up for Science

180 years of science defense

By David M. Ewalt

I was a American scientist Subscribed since the age of 12. I think that if I could ask this child if he expected to see his name in the magazine one day, he would say yes, but he would be surprised to find him on this particular page and not in one of the stories of great discoveries that follow. He wanted to grow to become astrobiologist and was certain that the SETI program would soon discover an extraterrestrial radio signal; The only doubt he would have had to know if he would be a main scientist in follow -up Sciam Article or only a junior member of the team.

Of course, Seti is still looking for, and my name is on this page, not among the great scientists of the world. But I couldn’t be more delighted and honored to present myself as American scientistThe new editor.

I had the chance to grow in a time when science was celebrated and great communicators told American children that science was not only a dignified but also exciting and cool career. I could transform television into PBS and watch Carl Sagan in Cosmos or Alan Alda American scientist Borders; Flipe it with the news, and I would see the takeoff of the space shuttle, the superconductors at high temperature and the launch of the human genome project.

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Unfortunately, today’s world is more and more hostile to science. Our leaders deny the existence of climate change focused on humans and disseminates vaccines that have saved hundreds of millions of lives. Schools lack funding for STEM courses, and budgets are reduced to leading research establishments such as NIH, NASA and Noaa. Earlier this year, I spoke to a high -end postdoc that had abandoned the idea of ​​guaranteeing a position in their American Mater Alma and weighed offers to move to Europe or China.

Who is American scientist more important than ever. In our very first issue, dated August 28, 1845, the editor -in -chief Rufus Porter offered the publication as a defender of science and industry and promised that he “instructed while he diverts or has fun”. My goal as editor -in -chief is to maintain these values, to defend science, to promote its application in industry and to help educate and inspire new generations of young scientists. I hope to make sure that our cover is focused on significant research and discoveries and that it supports scientists who work at a time when the value of science itself is not too often recognized.

Given this context, I am particularly delighted that my first issue as editor -in -chief brand the 180th anniversary of American scientist. Our celebration begins with an exceptional collection of stories about the moments when science itself made turns in 180 degrees, in particular by abandoning ideas such as this light is a vague traveling through “ether”, that the nerves are not regenerated, and that the expansion of the universe slows down. The birthday party continues online, so don’t forget to consult our website in Sciam.com in the coming months.

In our cover history, journalist Maryn McKenna looks at the perplexed world of peanut allergies. Food reactions are probably as old as time, and researchers now believe that they affect one in 10 American on the whole and two children in each class. But peanut allergies only became widespread in the 1990s. Fortunately, remarkable new treatments could release millions of people from the deadly threat of anaphylaxis or even end the food sensitivities once and for all. This is an extraordinary example of how science can make people a better place. And this is the ideal way to launch our next 180 years.

I am happy to have this soap box to stand at a time when our nation is hungry for a significant discovery and the scientific community needs everyone’s support. I hope you will stand with me. American scientist I helped shape my way of looking at the world. It has always educated and delighted, and I suspect that it is done the same for you too. I can’t wait to explore the future together.