U.S.: Science policy swayed by politics

[MIKE BURN]

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Group: Science policy swayed by politics



4,000 scientists, 48 Nobel laureates join protest



Friday, July 9, 2004 Posted: 10:08 AM EDT (1408 GMT)



WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The Bush administration is still packing scientific advisory panels with ideologues and is imposing strict controls on researchers who want to share ideas with colleagues in other countries, a group of scientists charged on Thursday.



The Union of Concerned Scientists said in a report that the administration's policies could take years to undo and in the meantime the best and the brightest would be frightened away from jobs in the National Institutes of Health and other government institutions.



The union, chaired by Dr. Kurt Gottfried, Emeritus Professor of Physics at Cornell University, said more than 4,000 scientists, including 48 Nobel laureates, had joined the call for "restoration of scientific integrity in federal policymaking."



"These are increasing bits of evidence of attempts at control over the way the business of science, the open communication between scientists, is being conducted."



White House science adviser Dr. John Marburger and HHS spokesman Bill Pierce have denied the administration is distorting science. Pierce says HHS is seeking a diversity of opinions.



But Robert Paine, an ecologist at University of Washington who chaired an advisory panel on endangered salmon and trout, said his team was warned by the government to remove facts that undermined policy.



"We were told to strip out specific scientific recommendations or see our report end up in a drawer," Paine said.



The report includes accusations of administration interference on strip mining, drug approvals and protection of endangered species.

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[Galmin]

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But Robert Paine, an ecologist at University of Washington who chaired an advisory panel on endangered salmon and trout, said his team was warned by the government to remove facts that undermined policy.



"We were told to strip out specific scientific recommendations or see our report end up in a drawer"

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Incredible. Strangely enough I am not surprised.