It's the first day of voting today in Iowa, and a perfect time to talk about...science?

So says a group of scientists who have joined Sciencedebate2008, now urging the candidates for US president to debate their stance on the environment, medicine, and science policy.

This debate is vital, they argue, "given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness," according to a statement on their Web site.

Members of Sciencedebate2008 include Nobel laureates Peter Agre, David Baltimore, and Steve Chu, along with former science advisors to the president Neil Lane and John Gibbons. There are also university presidents, and the editors of both Science and Nature, among others.

If you recognize some of the names, that's because many of the people have also signed on to other similar organizations, including Scientists and Engineers for America, and the Federation of American Scientists. I don't know about you, but I'm starting to find it hard to keep straight all of these organizations, and their role in the newest round of elections. The upcoming months will certainly be interesting, from a science-policy perspective. Stay tuned for more of our political coverage.