We use science to address global problems and improve people’s lives.

Who We Are

The Union of Concerned Scientists is a national nonprofit organization founded more than 50 years ago by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, we are a group of nearly 250 scientists, analysts, policy experts and strategic communicators dedicated to that purpose.

People at UCS
We are scientists, analysts, and advocates working to make change.

The Union of Concerned Scientists is more than just scientists. We are analysts, engineers, policy experts, advocates, and communicators—a diverse group of people with a wide range of experiences and expertise, unified by a common belief: that science can and should be a force for good.

What We Care About

Our founders knew science and evidence-based decision making was critical to solving many of the biggest challenges facing humankind. To make progress we would need to work persistently in the face of often daunting odds. That’s just what we’ve done.
 

• We combat climate change and seek to alleviate harm caused by the heat, sea level rise, and other consequences of runaway emissions,
• We strive to develop sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves,
• We work to reduce the existential threat of nuclear war,
• We fight back when powerful corporations or special interests mislead the public on science, and
• We ensure our solutions advance racial and economic equity.

Our Mission and Values

We’re here to solve the planet’s most pressing problems.

Our mission: to use rigorous, independent science to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with people across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

Our Values
 

• Science
  Robust science is essential for protecting our lives, health, and safety, and for developing solutions to the many challenges we face. Scientific research must be conducted ethically and transparently, and never be suppressed or sidelined. Government decisions should always be informed by the best available data and analyses.

• Democracy
  We believe in government by and for the people in which everyone has fair representation, the ability to hold decisionmakers accountable, the right to access information, and a voice in the choices that impact the health, safety, and well-being of their families and communities.

• Justice
  We seek environmental and economic justice in partnership with those who face unequal burdens due to race, identity, or disparities in wealth and income. We promote strategies that contribute to people’s dignity and respect.

• Integrity
  We value honesty, openness, and accountability. To ensure our work is independent, we take no corporate or government money. We are never beholden to special interests.

• Action
  We tackle some of the hardest problems facing humanity with the commitment and urgency they require. We work to improve the human condition, help communities build resilience, and support and restore thriving natural ecosystems. We fight back when safeguards are sacrificed for private profit, and we persevere until we achieve our goals.

Jobs at UCS

Join our team of experts and advocates to help create a better, safer world.

Our culture
People are at the heart of the Union of Concerned Scientists. We value our staff and our mission of science-based action for the public good. We hire people who are smart and determined to make a difference. We are rewarded by knowing that our analysis and advocacy contributes to a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

With our shared goals and vision of a safer and better world, we hail from all walks of life and speak many languages, reflecting the diverse audiences that we serve. We strive to maintain an open culture where everyone contributes and feels comfortable sharing ideas and opinions. We support our staff with equitable and transparent salaries, training, sit/stand desks, world class benefits, and a culture that emphasizes work/life balance. We want UCS to be a place where you can bring your whole self to work—our goal is a workplace where diversity is valued, supported, and welcomed.