Physicists and public policy: the “Forum” and the APS
DOI: 10.1063/1.3128586
Since World War II physicists have played a prominent role in developing weapons policy and science policy for our country. This interaction with the government has been carried out largely behind the scenes, beyond the public view, by an elite group of established and renowned physicists working through such institutions as the President’s Science Advisory Committee, the National Academy of Sciences and the JASON program of the Institute for Defense Analyses. By and large most physicists have had no role in this process. In the past the physics profession has not encouraged physicists to involve themselves in public policy. It has not provided reward and recognition for this kind of activity.
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References
1. “Physicists and public policy” (Editorial), PHYSICS TODAY, December 1967, page 128.
2. The New York Times, 25 April 1973.
3. For example, see F. von Hippel, J. Primack, Science 177, 1166 (1972).https://doi.org/SCIEAS
4. Technology Review, January 1974, page 17.
5. I. A. Forbes, D. F. Ford, H. W. Kendall, J. J. MacKenzie, Environment, January–February 1972, page 40;
D. F. Ford, H. W. Kendall, Environment, September 1972, page 2.6. “Candidates for national offices give views,” Chemical and Engineering News, 8 October 1973, page 45.
More about the authors
Barry M. Casper, Carleton College.
