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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
Won Protection for Scientific Whistleblowers
Provided Critical, Independent Expertise on the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
Helped Reduce Nuclear Stockpiles in the United States & Russia
Dramatically Cut Emissions from Cars and Trucks
Halved Global Warming Emissions in the Northeast
UCS opens its Midwest office in Chicago.
Won International Protections to Preserve the World's Rainforests
UCS creates a dedicated team to work on scientific integrity in government, now called the Center For Science And Democracy.
Organized 17,000 Scientists to Oppose Bush Administration's Abuse of Science
Sounded an Alarm on the Reckless Overuse of Antibiotics on Farms
