Dear Colleagues: I write to solicit your participation in "On-Call" Scientists, an initiative of AAAS's Science and Human Rights Program. "On-Call" Scientists aims to expand pro bono science in the service of human rights by connecting scientists interested in volunteering their skills and knowledge with human rights organizations in need of scientific expertise. Since October 2008, almost 500 scientists from around the world have signed up to volunteer through "On-call" Scientists, and we continually seek to expand our network of "On-Call" expertise and pro bono opportunities. Projects to which volunteers are currently contributing include: psychiatrists and psychologists assessing evidence of torture in support of asylum applications; geologists investigating the effects on local communities of oil extraction in Congo and gold extraction in Guinea; a psychologist assessing the impact on children obligated to work in a diamond mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo; a statistician advising on effective questionnaire-based research methodologies concerning HIV/AIDS in east Africa; and an economist conducting a cost-benefit analysis of legislating for the right to health care in Montana.
The benefits of matches made through "On-call" Scientists go in two directions: While human rights organizations benefit from the pro bono expertise offered by the scientists, scientists and engineers gain a better understanding of human rights and see new applications for their knowledge. We welcome volunteer scientists and engineers from all disciplines even if their profession is so specialized that they cannot currently imagine a possible application to human rights. At a minimum, scientists of all backgrounds can help organizations integrate the scientific method into their data collection and analysis. Interested volunteers can find more information and sign up through our website (http://oncallscientists.aaas.org/default.aspx), and may contact me directly with any questions. Warm regards, Jen Makrides Science and Human Rights Program American Association for the Advancement of Science 1200 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005 USA Ph +1 202 326 6796 Fax +1 202 289 4950 [email protected] http://oncallscientists.aaas.org/default.aspx
