A Distant Light.. Scientists and Public Policy

The essays in this collection reveal the far-ranging and enduring contributions to society, of 1990 physics Nobel laureate and longtime environmentalist Henry W. Kendall. Kendall was chairman of the Union of Concerned Scientists for twenty-six years until his death in 1999. Through his work with the UCS, Kendall had a deep impact on a wide spectrum of critical public policy issues, most notably nuclear arms control, U.S. energy policy, and global warming. He was a leading participant on several presidential panels and was often called upon to provide expert advice to the U.S. Congress and various governmental agencies. These essays cover a broad range of efforts by scientists to impact public policy. They illuminate the challenges facing scientists who choose to be actively involved in public matters, with keen insights from Dr. Kendall on what it takes to succeed. Largely non-technical, the essays and papers are arranged in chronological order, organized by topics with new introductions by Dr. Kendall, beginning with the controversies over nuclear power safety in the 1970s, then followed by sections on national security issues, global environmental problems, bio-technology, and other current issues. Kendall's Nobel Prize lecture on the discovery of quarks is included as well. The photos in the book are Kendall's, from a 1992 exhibition of his work.