- 1. Suppression of Dissent The Influence of Political
Appointments on Science Policy
2.
- In its most general sense, the suppression of dissenting views
is common within the scientific community; peer review is an
example of one necessary suppression process. The downside to this
method of suppression arises in the form of publication bias, where
different types of results are systematically handled differently.
Generally speaking, the author continues to be free to seek
publication elsewhere.
- When the dissenting scientific view threatens a group with
theloss of power , that group may react with suppression that can
be categorized into one of the following types of action:
Suppression of Dissent.Available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppression_of_dissent 3.
- Copernicius :Self-censoredhisDe revolutionibus orbium
coelestium( On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres ) for many
years
- Galileo :Indirect(philospohers refusal to peer through his
telescope) anddirect actions(banning ofDialogue Concerning the Two
Chief World Systems )
- Giordino Bruno :Direct Action(burned at the stake after
refusing to recant his belief in the principle of plenitude)
De revolutionibus orbium coelestium . Available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_revolutionibus_orbium_coelestium
Galileo Affair . Available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_affair Giordano Bruno .
Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giordano_Bruno 4.
- What we found is that researchers are very aware of controversy
and decide what to study...in relation to what they think is
appropriate. It's these silent rules that really guide what
researchers do.
- Joanna Kempner, a sociologist at the University of Michigan in
Ann Arbor commenting on her study that analyzed the underpinnings
of science research suppression.
- These results infer that many acts of suppression will forever
go undocumented. Even so, there is a complement of recent, highly
visible cases at agencies all across the Federal Government.
- The following slides present a selection of these suppressive
events and the responsible political officials (many of whom have
little science background).
- Lovgren, S (2005)Self-censorship limits science more tha laws,
study says.Available at http://news.
-
-
nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0210_050210_censorship.html
5.
- Science is respected and protected and highly valued by the
administration.
- Donald Tighe, of the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy responding to questions about the activities of a
presidential appointee at NASA in 2006
- Revkin, A. (2006).NASA chief backs openness . Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/
6.
- Politicization of science policies within the Bush
Administration started occurring even before the election
- I oppose federal funding for stem cell research that involves
destroying living human embryos.
- George Bush, stating his position while campaigning as a
Presidential Candidate in 2000
AAAS Policy Brief: Stem Cell Research . Available at
http://www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/briefs/stemcells/#guidelines 7.
- In 2002, anadverse impact studyon the effects a proposed
coal-fired power plant in western Kentucky would have at the
Mammoth Cave National Park wasrescindedafter a private meeting
between the National Park Service Director (Fran Mainella), the
Deputy Interior Secretary (Steven Griles), and the power plant
company (Peabody Energy Corp).
- Peabody Energy Corp is listed as having made large
contributions to Republican efforts during the 2000 and 2002
campaigns.
- Bush officials intervened to silence objections to coal plant
near Mammoth Cave National Park . Available at
-
- http://www.nrdc.org/BushRecord/2002_11.asp
- Soft money donors found for Peabody . Available at
http://www.opensecrets.org/softmoney/softcomp1.asp?
8.
- In the past, scientists have written their reports, said, This
is what the science is, and the policymakers made their decisions
from it.
- Decisions that come out of Fish and Wildlife ignore the science
and fabricate evidence in the crudest, most unsophisticated
way.
- Stuart Pimm, professor of conservation ecology at Duke
University, protesting at Capital Hill in January, 2008
- Williamson, E. (2008).Scientists take complaints about
interference to hill . Available at http://www.washingtonpost.
-
- com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/15/AR2008011503428.html
9.
- Specifically, the complainant alleged that [Julie MacDonald,
Deputy Assistant secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks] had
bullied, insulted, and harassed the professional staff of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to change documents and alter
biological reporting regarding the Endangered Species Program. As
our investigation progressed, we also developed information that
MacDonald had disclosed nonpublic information to private sector
sources.
- Results of an investigation by the Office the Inspector
General.
Report of Investigation . Available at
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/PROGRAMS/esa/pdfs/doi-ig-report_jm.pdf
10.
- A policy was put in place at the US Geological Survey stating
that the director (Mark Myers) and the communication office would
be informed of:
- findings or data that may be especially newsworthy, have an
impact on government policy, or contradict previous public
understanding to ensure that proper officials are notified and that
communication strategies are developed.
- I feel as though weve got someone looking over our shoulder at
every damn thing we do. And to me thats a very scary thing. I worry
that it borders on censorship.
- Jim Estes, from the USGS field station at Santa Cruz, CA
Heilprin, J (2006) Available at
http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/pharmwaste/2006-December/000718.html
11.
- A political appointee at my agency prevented my research on
all-terrain-vehicle safety from reaching the public, even when
deaths and injuries occurred.
- Robin Ingle, a former statistician at the Consumer Product
Safety Commission commenting on the delayed release - and attempted
rewording - of CPSCs annual ATV report.
- Appel, A. (2008). Top scientists want research free from
politics. Available at http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?
- Ingle, R. (2007)Which toys are okay? Dont ask the safety police
. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
-
- dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122101555_pf.html
12.
- I can no longer serve as staff when scientific and clinical
evidence, fully evaluated and recommended for approval by the
professional staff here, has been overruled.
- Susan F. Wood, Assistant FDA Commissioner responding to FDA
Commissioner Lester Crawfords decision to further delay approving
over-the-counter emergency contraception.
- Kaufman, M. (2005).FDA official quits over delay on Plan
B.Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
-
- dyn/content/article/2005/08/31/AR2005083101271.html
13.
- The reality is that the nations doctor has been marginalized
and relegated to a position with no independent budget and with
supervisors who are political appointees with partisan agendas.
Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees'
ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored,
marginalized or simply buried.
- Former surgeon General Richard Carmona testifying to the House
Government Reform Committee in July, 2007.
- Rovner, J. (2007) Ex-Surgeon General says administration
interfered. Available at http://www.npr.org/templates/
-
- story/story.php?storyId=11854247
14.
- The latest government tests show that New Yorkers, including
those returning to work in the Wall Street area, are not being
exposed to dangerous levels of contaminants, like asbestos, said
Christie Whitman, who oversees the Environmental Protection
Agency.
- Reported in the New York Times, September 2001
- A comprehensive 2003 report by the E.P.A.s own inspector
general that concluded that Mrs. Whitman did not have sufficient
scientific information to warrant stating, on Sept. 18, 2001, that
the air in New York was safe to breathe. The report also detailed
how the White House had altered her press releases.
- Reported in the New Times, June 2007
- Tests find air safe near ground zero . (2001) Available at
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?
-
- res=9B0DE5DA143AF937A1575AC0A9679C8B63
- DePalma, A. (2007). Ex-EPA chief defends role in 9/11 response
. Available at
-
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/nyregion/26whitman.html
15.
- They were attempts to create a more moderate pictureNo doubt
some people did interpret their jobs as to reducing the fear
factor.
- Dr. James Mahoney, former director of Climate Change Science
Program explaining Philip Cooneys edits to a 2003 EPA report on
Global Warming. These edits deleted links to man-made causes and
weakened the discussion of potential consequences .
- Pegg, J. (2007).Effects of Bush climate science censorship
linger. Available athttp://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/
-
- feb2007/2007-02-07-10.asp
16.
- I speak today as myself and not as a spokesman for NASA.
- Jim Hansen, in the opening remarks to his
presentation,Communicating the Dangers and Opportunities in Global
Warming,at the 2006 meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
- Dr. Hansen had been threatened with dire consequences should he
continue his public appeals for action to limit the emissions of
gases that are implicated in global warming.
- Hart, I. (2006)Jim Hansen and Goreticipation . Available at
http://scienceblogs.com/integrityofscience/
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- 2006/12/agu_day_4_jim_hansen_and_goret.php
17.
- George Deutsch (a journalism graduate) was identified as one of
the presidential appointees within the public affairs office at
NASA who had passed along such warnings.
- Mr. Deutsch also began reviewing (and rejecting) requests for
interviews with Dr. Hansen.
- Additionally, Mr. Deutsch offered his input during the creation
of NASA scholastic materials
- Revkin, C. (2006).NASA chief backs agencyopnness. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/
- Associated Press Stylebook . (2000). Available at
http://alumni.imsa.edu/org/hadron/ap.pdf
18.
- It is not NASA's place, nor should it be to make a declaration
such as this about the existence of the universe that discounts
intelligent design by a creator.
- This is more than a science issue, it is a religious issue. And
I would hate to think that young people would only be getting
one-half of this debate from NASA. That would mean we had failed to
properly educate the very people who rely on us for factual
information the most.
- George Deutsch, in emails directing a NASA contractor (Flint
Wild) to add the word theory to every mention of the Big bang in
Web presentations on Einstein that were being created for
middle-school aged students during 2005.
- Mr. Deutsch also used as part of his reasoning, the existence
of a Big Bang Theory entry in The Associated Press Stylebook.
- Revkin, C. (2006).NASA chief backs agencyopnness. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/
- Associated Press Stylebook . (2000). Available at
http://alumni.imsa.edu/org/hadron/ap.pdf
19.
- It is not the job of public-affairs officers to alter, filter
or adjust engineering or scientific material produced by NASA's
technical staff.
- NASA administrator Michael Griffin, commenting in an e-mail
message to NASA's 19,000 employees a week after Dr. Hansens
complaints were quoted in the New York Times.
- Revkin, C. (2006).NASA chief backs agencyopnness. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/
20.
- Responses from within the
21.
- The 2006 annual meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) included a session that assessed the
Bush administrations strained relationship with science.
- Scientists need to recognize the potency of the threat this
philosophy represents to the long cherished independence of US
science.
- David Baltimore, Nobel laureate and (at the time)
president-elect of the AAAS
Science under attack. (2006).Nature, v439 , 891. 22.
- The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a number of
reports while tracking political interference.
- The 2004 statement onScientific Integrity in Policy Makingwas
initially signed by 62 leading scientists.
- In 2006, the report had been updated and signed by 10,600
scientists.
- Scientific Integrity in Policy Making . (2004). Available at
http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/interference/scientific-
-
- integrity-in-policy-making-704.html
- 10,600 scientists condemn political interference in science .
(2006) Available at http://www.ucsusa.org/news/
-
- press_release/10600-scientists-condemn.html
23.
- Responses from within Congress
24.
- The evidence before the Committee leads to one inescapable
conclusion: the Bush Administration has engaged in a systematic
effort to manipulate climate change science and mislead
policymakers and the public about the dangers of global
warming.
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, December
2007
- Committee report: White house engaged in systematic effort to
manipulate climate change science.(2007). Available at
-
- http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1653
25.
- Science does not dictate policy it informs the policy decisions
we make. We rely upon federal scientists to produce information not
propaganda. We need complete, objective, factual information as
input to our policy decisionsthe incorporation of these provisions
into NOAAs organic legislation makes clear that NOAAs science and
its scientists will be protected from manipulation by shifts in the
political winds.
- Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) from the House of Representatives
Committee on Science and Technology in support of his Amendment to
HR 5450
- The Miller Amendment was defeated: 17 - 13
- Committee reports NOAA organization bill - again.(2006)
Available at http://sciencedems.house.gov/press/
-
- PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1141
26.
- While this was by no means an inclusive list of all suppressive
activities during this administration, the snapshot speaks volumes
as to just how far the level of interference has reached.
- Whether a new administration will bring positive change is
- left to be seen, especially sincestopping the interferenceis
only the first step
27.
- Even if we succeed in lifting this heavy hand of censorship
there is still the problem of getting the political leadership to
embrace the findings put forward by the scientists.
- Rick Piltz, a former scientist at the Climate Change Science
Program, speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee.
- Pegg, J. (2007)Effects of Bush climate scince censorship
linger.Available at http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/
-
- feb2007/2007-02-07-10.asp