Breakthroughs

What is Hillary Clinton’s policy on stem cell research?

How does John McCain plan to fight global warming?

What does Barack Obama think about alternative energy?

If you’d like to know, then get ready for a different kind of political science—with a focus on the science.

Liberty Science Center is putting this year’s race for the White House under the microscope in a way that you haven’t seen before with Vote Science 2008, part of the ever-changing Breakthroughs exhibition.

It might even help you decide how to vote!

Why Science and Politics Mix

Science is something that’s not discussed much on the campaign trail. And yet science impacts almost every aspect of our lives, from what we eat to the air we breathe to the technology that keeps us connected with one another.

Politicians play a major role in decisions about science. They pass laws about energy use, negotiate treaties on global warming, and help decide which medical research should receive federal funding, among a host of other scientific issues.

“It’s amazing that no one is talking about these issues, which I believe are the most important issues facing America,” Matthew Chapman, a journalist, screenwriter and Charles Darwin’s great-great-grandson, told PBS’s NewsHour with Jim Lehrer recently.

Where Do the Candidates Stand?

With so little talk about science on the stump, how can you find out what the presidential candidates really think about the most important scientific issues of our day?

We’ve done the research for you! Come to Liberty Science Center and learn what Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama plan to do about energy policy, climate change, stem cell research, science education and more.

Then it’s your turn to get involved. Explore the issues yourself, share your opinions with others, and see who you agree with the most. Then step into the voting booth and pick the science candidate of your choice.

You don’t have to be registered to vote; anyone of any age can participate here!

Don’t let science issues get left out of the debate. Make your voice heard in this critical election year with Vote Science 2008, showing in the third-floor Breakthroughs gallery.

What is Breakthroughs?

An exhibition in constant flux, Breakthroughs is an interactive, multimedia experience that changes to highlight current issues and events. Breakthroughs lets you delve into daily science news and keep pace with groundbreaking discoveries. Like our world, it will never be the same.

Exhibition Highlights

Times Square of Science and Technology (T2ST)
This multimedia sci-tech art piece hangs in a 60-foot-high atrium, showcasing discoveries and innovations in science and technology.

Live Demos
Special demonstrations reveal the basic scientific concepts behind new discoveries and relate them to everyday life. Videoconferencing – as well as visits from researchers making news – will inspire novices and experts alike.

Rovers
Specially-designed “rovers” bring the latest science news to you. When news breaks related to another Science Center exhibition, these plasma touch screens can be moved and updated to provide you with the very latest information.

Breakthroughs is made possible by the generosity of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology.