The Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C²ST) is a new not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of the scientific community of metropolitan Chicago.
Two of the key figures behind C²ST—Alan Schriesheim, director emeritus of Argonne National Laboratory, and Paul Knappenberger, president of the Adler Planetarium—decided Chicago needed an organization that could adopt a role in the scientific community similar to the one the Chicago Council on Global Affairs plays in foreign and international affairs.
As the 21st century begins to unfold, it is clear that we live in a society in which science plays an increasingly significant role. Citizens and their leaders need to achieve a functional level of scientific literacy to deal with issues ranging from global climate change to stem cell research to viral pandemics. It’s estimated that about one in four American adults meets a minimal standard of civic scientific literacy—roughly the level needed to read the science section of The New York Times. This level of scientific literacy is not sufficient to sustain a healthy democratic society or to assure rational consideration of major scientific issues.
The creation of C²ST is an important first step in helping Chicago do its part to address this critical issue. The board of directors has organized committees on programming, finance and business operations, and membership, and C²ST has been incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in the state of Illinois and has applied for 501(c)3 certification from the IRS.
We will continue to update this site with information on programs we’re developing, so please check back often for updates.