Discussion Panel Tackles Science, Democracy & Climate at NYC Climate Week

Cross-disciplinary panel discussion will explore the interplay between scientific consensus, democratic governance, and the climate crisis.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Stand Up for Science will host a public panel discussion, “Science, Democracy and Climate,” on September 23 in Midtown, as part of New York Climate Week 2026. The panel will bring together leading voices in climate science, political theory, and science activism to confront a defining tension of our time: what happens when scientific consensus and democratic decision-making head in different directions.

Panelists will engage in a candid conversation exploring the interplay between scientific consensus, democratic governance, and the climate crisis, examining why democratic systems sometimes struggle to keep pace with scientific urgency and what it will take to bridge the gap between evidence and action. Attendees can also submit questions.

Moderated by Dr. Colette Delawalla, CEO and Founder of Stand Up for Science, the panel will also feature Dr. Ticora Jones, Chief Science Officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Dr. Michael Mann, climate researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.

“This is a moment where the relationship between evidence and governance is under real strain. The science on climate change isn’t ambiguous, yet we’re watching efforts to discontinue research, defund the agencies that produce it, and sideline the experts. That's not just a climate problem — it's a democracy problem. When decision-makers stop treating evidence as a shared starting point, we lose the ability to have honest debates about what to do next. This panel exists because we know the public deserves better than that,” said Delawalla.

The event is free and open to the public. Interested attendees can reserve their spot here.

What: Stand Up for Science’s “Science, Democracy and Climate” Discussion Panel
Who: Dr. Colette Delawalla, Stand Up for Science; Dr. Ticora Jones, Natural Resources Defense Council; and Dr. Michael Mann, University of Pennsylvania
When: Wednesday, September 23, 3 pm Eastern
Where: 22 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016. Reserve your spot to attend here.

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Stand Up for Science is a grassroots, Washington, D.C. based, non-profit organization mobilizing the fight for science and democracy. Stand Up for Science was formed in February 2025 in response to actions affecting federal science agencies and funding of the American scientific ecosystem. On March 7th, Stand Up for Science mobilized over 50,000 people at 170+ events across the world on its first National Day of Action. Federal scientists across multiple agencies (NIH, EPA, NASA, FEMA) have chosen Stand Up for Science as the platform to publish their open letters of concern. Stand Up for Science is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization [EIN: 33-4154429] and donations are not tax-deductible.

Char Bowling
Stand Up for Science
media@standupforscience.net