Over the summer, the Cambridge-based science advocacy group, Union of Concerned Scientists, launched Science Idol: the Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest, asking artists to come up with the best cartoons related to the interference in science by US government officials, which has been a major issue for the group. Now you can vote on which of the 12 finalists you like best. The winner gets $500 and his/her cartoon will be featured on the cover of a new 2007 calendar called Defending Science that the group is putting out. Click here to see the cartoons and vote. A random sample of voters will also be chosen to receive a free copy of the calendar. Voting ends on September 30.

They’re all pretty good, some are downright brilliant. It’s going to be a tough choice.