Bush Administration Critic Kurt Gottfried to Discuss Science, Politics at Caltech

PASADENA, Calif.- Cornell University professor of physics and noted science advisor Kurt Gottfried will present the third keynote address in the 2004-2005 season of the Social Activism Speaker Series at the California Institute of Technology. Gottfried is the cofounder of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit organization that promotes scientific integrity in government policy. He will speak on the relationship between science and politics from both a historical and a current perspective. This event will take place on Tuesday, April 19, at 8 p.m., in the Beckman Institute Auditorium at Caltech. It is free and open to the public.

Gottfried has served on the Council on Foreign Relations and as a senior staff member of the European Center for Nuclear Research. He recently co-authored a report entitled Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policy Making, focused on documenting the alleged misuse of scientific research by the Bush Administration. Thousands of scientists signed statements in support of its call to action. Gottfried has written two physics textbooks and was the senior author of The Fallacy of Star Wars and Crisis Stability and Nuclear War.

The event will be hosted by the Social Activism Speaker Series, which focuses attention on current social and political issues by inviting prominent activists and experts to share their experiences and perspectives with the Caltech community and the public. This series is coordinated with the help of the Caltech Y, and is made possible by contributions from the Moore-Hufstedler Fund, Student Affairs, the Alumni Association, Campus Life, the Diversity Program Fund, the Graduate Student Council, Jack and Edith Roberts, and the Associated Students of Caltech.

The Beckman Institute Auditorium is located on the west side of the Caltech campus. Free parking is available in the lots south of Del Mar Boulevard between Wilson and Chester avenues, and in the Wilson Avenue and Holliston Avenue parking structures between San Pasqual Street and Del Mar Boulevard.

For more information, visit http://sass.caltech.edu or contact Greg Fletcher, Caltech Y, (626) 395-6163.

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Media Contact: Deborah Williams-Hedges (626) 395-3227 debwms@caltech.edu

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