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We’ve spent fifty proud years tackling the world’s most pressing issues.
The Union of Concerned Scientists was founded in 1969 by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That year, the Vietnam War was at its height and Cleveland’s heavily polluted Cuyahoga River had caught fire. Appalled at how the United States government was misusing science, the UCS founders, including Henry Kendall and Kurt Gottfried, drafted a statement calling for scientific research to be directed away from military technologies and toward solving pressing environmental and social problems.
We remain true to that founding vision. Throughout our history, UCS has followed the example set by the scientific community: we share information, seek the truth, and let our findings guide our conclusions.
It’s a powerful formula.
By mobilizing scientists and combining their voices with those of advocates, educators, business people, and other concerned citizens, UCS has built a reputation for fairness and accuracy and amassed an impressive history of accomplishments.
Founding documents
Major accomplishments
Blocked Anti-Science Nominees from the Trump Administration
Showcased the Threat to Coastal Properties from Climate-Driven Sea Level Rise
Provided Crucial, Independent Analysis of the North Korean Missile Program
Forced ExxonMobil to Acknowledge Climate Change in its Business Plans
Expanded Clean Energy in the Midwest
Secured Fuel Efficiency Standards for Big Trucks
Revealed Climate Deception at ExxonMobil
UCS Fully Divests From Fossil Fuel Interests
Spotlighted How Restructuring US Food Policy Could Save Trillions
Exposed Misinformation and Media Bias
