USGS scientists worry about being muzzled

msnbc (AP) ^ | Dec 16 2006 | John Heilprin

[djf]

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is clamping down on scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, the latest agency subjected to controls on research that might go against official policy.

New rules require screening of all facts and interpretations by agency scientists who study everything from caribou mating to global warming. The rules apply to all scientific papers and other public documents, even minor reports or prepared talks, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Top officials at the Interior Department’s scientific arm say the rules only standardize what scientists must do to ensure the quality of their work and give a heads-up to the agency’s public relations staff.

[Szent_Adam_Kiraly]

“Having been admonished by this Holy Office [the Inquisition] entirely to abandon the false opinion that the Sun was the center of the universe and immovable, and that the Earth was not the center of the same and that it moved... I abjure with a since”

-Galileo Galilei

[kinoxi]

What is a close to 400 year old quote supposed to mean? Things have changed since then I think.

[From many - one.]

Precisely.

Do folks favoring this want it to happen in a Hillary administration?

I thought not.

[caver]

We'll probably have some leaks from the USGS just like every other branch of the Bush administration.

[Szent_Adam_Kiraly]

"What is a close to 400 year old quote supposed to mean? Things have changed since then I think."

Yes, things have chaged since then. The change has been largly due to government having very limited control on scientific publication.

[kinoxi]

The USGS is government funded.

[Szent_Adam_Kiraly]

"The USGS is government funded."

Yeah, and? Are they funded to support whatever administration happens to be in power? Or are they funded to conduct sound science?

[kinoxi]

Both.

[Szent_Adam_Kiraly]

And when the results do not support the administration, What is the priority?

[kinoxi]

The priority is the truth. Not writing blank checks for dubious purposes.

[Cincinatus]

We have professional scientists on the payroll because they're professional scientists and will give us the straight scoop.

Modern science is as thoroughly politicized as any of the other academic professions, more so than some. Conjectures and hypotheses are often trotted out as "scientific fact" to make a political point. Happens all the time.

Is there any politicians in the White House who are competent enough to review USGS findings?

There is. People who work in OSTP (Office of Science and Technology Policy, run by the Presidential science advisor) are all trained scientists on temporary duty at the White House. They can and should comment on government funded scientific findings and evaluate them for policy makers. That's what they get paid for.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

Note to all federal employees:

"He who pays the piper calls the tune".

Those who are unhappy with this arrangement are free to seek employment elsewhere.

Reason #337 for minimizing the scope of government activities: "government funded science" is an oxymoron.

[Szent_Adam_Kiraly]

Yeah, but I think a given administrations priority is power before truth.

Just imagine Democrats recieving a study (pre publication) showing that current global warming has no corolation with human activity. Now tell me truth is the priority.

[Brilliant]

The problem is that these scientists dabble in politics as much or more than scientific matters.

[Cincinatus]

"government funded science" is an oxymoron.

Tell that to the former inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[kinoxi]

We disagree.

[Szent_Adam_Kiraly]

"The problem is that these scientists dabble in politics as much or more than scientific matters."

Can you back that up?

[Brilliant]

Read the section of the article titled "Criticism over scientific integrity".

[mewzilla]

Is there any politicians in the White House who are competent enough to review USGS findings?

If these guys are so brilliant, why are they working in the public sector?

Just askin' :)

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure Dr Dalton was doing what he thought was in your town's best interests. However, I have learned through bitter experience that these decisions are not to be made lightly.

Back years ago I would have bet you a million bucks that Mammoth Mountain was about to go up. We began to talk about the possibility of putting that town on alert. Thank God the mountain didn't go up, but the damage had already been done. The word leaked out that the U.S.G.S. Had expressed concern. So the tourists panicked and stayed away. The real estate values plummeted, and the town nearly went bankrupt.

Consequently, I'm now a lot more cautious when it comes to even talking about putting a town on alert."