Campus.News reports that Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson delivered the 2003 William D. Carey Lecture at a colloqium sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The lecture was given on April 10 in Washington, DC.

According to the article, Jackson addressed the importance for technology leaders to participate in policy making, public outreach, and education. She said:

As the events of the past century have made painfully clear, there is a ‘knife-edge’ to the advancement of science. The misuse of science could take us to the brink. Yet, science also can lead us toward salvation.

In December, Dr. Jackson was elected President of the AAAS for 2004. The William D. Carey lecture was established by the AAAS in 1989 to honor its former executive officer. Others who have given the Carey Lecture include President Clinton's science advisor Neal Lane, National Science Foundation Director Rita Colwell, and former White House Science and Technology Policy Director John Gibbons.