An Open Letter to the American People

This year's presidential election is among the most significant in our nation's history. The country urgently needs a visionary leader who can ensure the future of our traditional strengths in science and technology and who can harness those strengths to address many of our greatest problems: energy, disease, climate change, security, and economic competitiveness.

We are convinced that Senator Barack Obama is such a leader, and we urge you to join us in supporting him.

During the administration of George W. Bush, vital parts of our country's scientific enterprise have been damaged by stagnant or declining federal support. The government's scientific advisory process has been distorted by political considerations. As a result, our once dominant position in the scientific world has been shaken and our prosperity has been placed at risk. We have lost time critical for the development of new ways to provide energy, treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy.

We have watched Senator Obama's approach to these issues with admiration. We especially applaud his emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation's competitiveness. In particular, we support the measures he plans to take – through new initiatives in education and training, expanded research funding, an unbiased process for obtaining scientific advice, and an appropriate balance of basic and applied research – to meet the nation's and the world's most urgent needs.

Senator Obama understands that Presidential leadership and federal investments in science and technology are crucial elements in successful governance of the world's leading country. We hope you will join us as we work together to ensure his election in November.

Signed,

Alexei Arikosov Physics 2003    

Peter Agre Chemistry 2003       

Sidney Altman Chemistry 1989    

Philip W. Anderson Physics 1977

Richard Axel Medicine 2004

David Baltimore Medicine 1975

Baruj Benacerraf Medicine 1980 

Paul Berg Chemistry 1980

J. Michael Bishop Medicine 1989

N. Bloembergen Physics 1981

Michael S. Brown Medicine 1985

Linda B. Buck Medicine 2004

Mario R. Capecchi Medicine 2007

Martin Chalfie Chemistry 2008

Stanley Cohen Medicine 1986

Leon Cooper Physics 1972

James W. Cronin Physics 1980

Robert F. Curl Chemistry 1996

Johann Diesenhofer Chemistry 1988 

John B. Fenn Chemistry 2002

Edmond H. Fischer Medicine 1992

Val Fitch Physics 1980

Jerome I. Friedman Physics 1990

Murray Gell-Man Physics 1969

Riccardo Giacconi Physics 2002

Walter Gilbert Chemistry 1980

Alfred G. Gilman Medicine 1994

Donald A. Glaser Physics 1960

Sheldon L. Glashow Physics 1979

Joseph Goldstein Medicine 1985

Paul Greengard Medicine 2000

David Gross Physics 2004

Robert H. Grubbs Chemistry 2005

Roger Guillemin Medicine 1977

John L. Hall Physics 2005

Leland H. Hartwell Medicine 2001

Dudley Herschbach Chemistry 1986

Roald Hoffmann Chemistry 1981

H. Robert Horvitz Medicine 2002

Louis Ignarro Medicine 1998

Eric R. Kandel Medicine 2000

Walter Kohn Chemistry 1998

Roger Kornberg Chemistry 2006

Leon M. Lederman Physics 1988

Craig C. Mello Medicine 2006

Yoichiro Nambu Physics 2008

Marshall Nirenberg Medicine 1968

Douglas D. Osheroff Physics 1996

Stanley B. Prusiner Medicine 1997

Norman F. Ramsey Physics 1989

Robert Richardson Physics 1996

Burton Richter Physics 1976

Sherwood Rowland Chemistry 1995

Oliver Smithies Medicine 2007

Richard R Schrock Chemistry 2005

Joseph H. Taylor Jr. Physics 1993

E. Donnall Thomas Medicine 1990

Charles H. Townes Physics 1964

Roger Tsien Chemistry 2008

Daniel C.Tsui Physics 1998

Harold Varmus Medicine 1989

James D. Watson Medicine 1962

Eric Wieschaus Medicine 1995

Frank Wilczek Physics 2004

Robert W. Wilson Physics 1978

The views expressed in this letter represent those of the signers acting as individual citizens.

They do not necessarily represent the views of the institutions with which they are affiliated. The

Medicine award is for “Physiology or Medicine.”

*UPDATED* The title originally read “Every Single 2008 Scientific Nobel Laureate Endorses Obama.”  It was pointed out by my friend, Mr. Leany that this letter was not signed by every 2008 Nobel Laureate.  I apologize for the mistake and will do better research in the future before posting.  Please forgive my mistake and take the letter for what it is worth; a list of some of the brightest minds in the world supporting Obama.