Science Debate 2008 Is a Major Bellwether

bellwether - a person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront, as of a profession or industry: Paris is a bellwether of the fashion industry.

I can't say enough good things about what the Science Debate 2008 group has managed to achieve so far. And enough bad things about some of the crotchety old farts who naysayed the idea from it's inception (always great to hear the fading echoes of last century's science community, like John Horgan, official fuddydud). Sheril Kirshenbaum has spearheaded a short note in Science about the future of SD 2008. The entire project seems to be saying one simple thing, loud and clear, which is, "Hey, we're part of society, too."

But it's also interesting to note the way in which this thing is happening. It's not the large science organizations (NSF, NAS, AAAS, etc.) getting together to provide leadership. Rather, it is a bold group of individuals at the grassroots level, organizing themselves, then dragging these rudderless behemoths along behind them. That's because leadership in the science world is a rare and difficult thing. It is a world characterized by the anonymity of gigantic acronymed (using the word as similar in meaning to "festooned") organizations who lead through committees headed by terrified bureaucrats.

Things are changing in the science world. SD 2008 is a major bellwether.