Posted on 03/20/2016 7:09:35 AM PDT by jessduntno
The group has been a fierce advocate for transparency, regularly championing investigations that rely on public documents to hold government officials accountable.
But over the past year, the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Cambridge-based advocacy group that represents thousands of scientists around the country, has campaigned to limit the scrutiny of scientists who work for public universities and agencies through public records requests.
These scientists, the group says, are increasingly being harassed by ideological foes who seek to unearth documents that would derail or sully their work with evidence of bias.
“We don’t want to work in an environment where every keystroke is subject to public records,’’ said Michael Halpern, who oversees strategy at the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, founded at MIT in 1969. “We’re trying to protect the deliberative nature of science. . . . Scientists need space to come to new knowledge, and to give critical feedback.”
“It’s just gibberish to say these laws stifle research,” said David Cuillier, director of the University of Arizona School of Journalism and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists’s freedom of information committee. “These are government scientists funded by taxpayers, and the public is entitled to see what they’re working on.”
The dispute centers on the proper balance between academic freedom and the transparency of public institutions, and has escalated as a growing number of scientists, typically those who research controversial topics such as climate change, receive public records requests.
Cant have the masses questioning the liberal legitimacy
Funny. No one screams “academic freedom” when you ask to see the evidence for the Higgs boson or gravity waves. It is about climate change. Always climate change. Of course the guys doing Higgs or gravity are first rate. The climate changes guys - well - we can’t interfere with academic freedom now can we.
Grant-grabbers, operating behind the curtain of “Science,” have a message to taxpayers that feed them: “Pay up and shut up.”
They’re saying “just accept our conclusions and don’t question the process”. Getting caught falsifying data is just too embarrassing. Elitists in control.
“Cant have the masses questioning the liberal legitimacy.”
I thought this was an Onion article when I first saw it.
...and has escalated as a growing number of scientists, typically those who research want to continue to feed at the government trough and thus spew out propaganda on controversial topics such as climate change, receive public records requests.
“They’re saying “just accept our conclusions and don’t question the process”. Getting caught falsifying data is just too embarrassing. Elitists in control.”
Well, but this is coming from Cambridge! How dare we want to find out how they are cooking, er, collecting facts?
They have been caught cheating, and they want the right for unchallenged lying as we currentlyballow politicians.
"...harassed by ideological foes..." meaning anyone who may disagree.
How many government-paid self-called “scientists” can the global enviro-academic—government complex can you buy for 92 billion dollars?
When science makes statements which impact public policy, their records are subject to public scrutiny.
What are they trying to hide?
Scientists or climatologists? There’s a big difference.
You take the funding, you follow the funding requirements. Does not matter who funds a project, there are always conditions to the money. Don’t like it, self fund guys!
Classic left wing attempt to stifle dissent and review.
As usual they are far smarter than the rest of us therefore their work or opinions should not be questioned.
Secret science?
That’s new.
The increased scrutiny was brought on by themselves. When you pursue political agendas masked as scientific research, prepare for increased scrutiny by the other side.
They are welcome to do whatever they like on their own dime.
If the taxpayers are funding their “research” then they should have to account for every keystroke.
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