WASHINGTON - September 24 - Concerned that critical issues involving the management of science and engineering are being drowned out in the election debate, leaders in the scientific and engineering communities including Nobel Laureates, a former science advisor to the President and the "Father of the Internet" will announce the launch of a new organization on Monday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. in a national teleconference call. They are concerned by mounting evidence that scientific integrity has been compromised and scientific priorities shortchanged by the Bush Administration.

The group will discuss its reasons for opposing the Bush Administration's science and technology policies and provide details of speaking tour focusing on 10 battleground states including Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

WHAT:

Media teleconference with some of the Nobel Laureates and distinguished scientists and engineers launching Scientists and Engineers for Change

WHO:

-- Scientists and Engineers for Change

-- Dr. Vint Cerf, chairman of ICANN and principal architect of the Internet

-- Dr. Douglas Osheroff, professor of physics at Stanford and winner of Nobel Prize in physics in 1996

-- Dr. Margaret Hamburg, M.D., former assistant secretary, Health and Human Services

WHEN:

2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27

###