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Many difficult issues surround the current US presidential election; the issues range from political, social, and economical. Surprisingly, scientific issues and reforms are often not discussed in conventions, platforms, or speeches by the presidential candidates.

The two party systems of Democrats and Republicans often discuss issues excluding science, and the upcoming presidential election of Barack Obama and John McCain follows the trend. To learn about the Democratic Candidate Senator Obama’s views upon scientific issues, in November 2007, the Science Debate 2008 formed. The organization then fine tuned 14 questions, met with the presidential candidate, and received detailed discussions from Obama.

Due to the scarcity of oil and the drastic rise in gas prices over the past few months, the energy crisis became a dominant issue in economics and science. Senator Obama offered several methods and solutions to be implemented to solve the energy crisis in order to help the nation. Presidential Candidate Obama of the Democratic Party plans to further fund federal research to discover innovative and cleaner sources of energy as well as alternative fuels and chemicals. The funds extend to 150 billion dollars spent during a period of 10 years. Technologies and equipment would be developed to reduce and capture greenhouse gases, and nuclear electric energy would be further developed and refined. To help enforce a cleaner environment in the US, Senator Obama plans to tax heavily pollution producing factories such as coal companies. McCain of the Republican Party, however, offers to scrap and reform the entire American energy economy to solve the crisis. Candidate Obama certainly has a clearer view to the energy solution.

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Stem cell research and implementation already has a solid but controversial foundation developed by President Bush. The research may successfully lead to treatments for many chronic diseases and injuries, thus saving lives. According to Obama’s response to Science Debate 2008, “Stem cell research holds the promise of improving our lives in at least three ways-by substituting normal cells for damaged cells to treat diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, heart failure and other disorders; by providing scientists with safe and convenient models of disease for drug development; and by helping to understand fundamental aspects of normal development and cell dysfunction.” Obama strongly supports stem cell research and plans to lift the federal ban on embryonic research. McCain believes in placing firm restrictions upon the implementation and uses of stem cell research. Stem cell research will be further researched into and developed to improve healthcare once candidate Obama becomes president.

Further scientific developments and inventions are important scientific issues, and Congress has recognized the importance of scientific research, but spending restraints and budgets are issues over the upcoming years. As president, Obama will increase scientific research funding in order to address issues such as energy, healthcare, water, and national security. McCain plans to carefully utilize and restrict the funds available to scientific research.
Over the issues of the energy crisis, stem cell research, and scientific research, Obama has wide spread popular views and clear plans of action; Obama will change science significantly in the US. Senator Obama successfully addresses the scientific issues in the election and provides a guiding view on unresolved scientific challenges.