September 25, 2020

Following the recent, historical presidential candidate endorsement made by Scientific American, there has been some confusion as to whether Sigma Xi, publisher of American Scientist magazine, has endorsed a presidential candidate. At Sigma Xi, we understand that the decision to select political candidates is a personal choice based on numerous factors and rooted in an individual's values and beliefs. Successful scientists and engineers come from all walks of life with different backgrounds and perspectives. Ultimately, it is the prerogative and the responsibility of every citizen to educate themselves about candidates at all levels of government and to make informed decisions. For these reasons, neither Sigma Xi nor American Scientist will endorse a candidate in the upcoming election or future elections. However, we feel that it is important to reiterate the Society's commitment to scientific research and the role it plays in the formulation of reliable and equitable policies to address technical, social, and economic problems. We encourage all candidates to make science and scientific evidence central to their policy proposals and we enthusiastically support candidates who lift up science and use it for the purpose of improving the human condition.

Sincerely,
 
Jamie Vernon
Executive Director and CEO, Sigma Xi 
Publisher, American Scientist