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January 23, 2009
I think Science's rightful place in government is a transparent tool for making decisions and facilitating meaningful discussions - too many government decisions are made based on politics and power plays and not logic and knowledge.
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January 23, 2009
I think that science's place should be to create a better world by helping people live better, especially those whose lives are stressed by the basics of lack of food and clean water and the necessities of maintaining their health. Wouldn't it be great if someone could "make" water by someway…
January 23, 2009
First that comes to mind is, I think NASA needs to get its ass in gear, it needs to get its priorities (and consequently, funding,) straightened out.
Science, being as universal as, well, the UNIVERSE, should also be a universal opportunity in society. I say start bridging that socioeconomic gap,…
January 23, 2009
Went to listen to Adam Bly speak about the science and culture at OCAD in Toronto a couple of months ago and one of the big take aways was the idea that we should use science as lens through which we view all subjects versus science as a subject itself. in this context we change our approach to…
January 23, 2009
I want to add one caveat to the stem cell debate. There is so much potential for the stem cell research that could potentially change people lives forever. I however throw caution to the wind by citing the sayings of those who build and/or advanced the technology for the nuclear bomb. these people…
January 23, 2009
I think the first thing Obama needs to do for science is over turn Bush's anti stem cell research and fund the research for diseases that can and will help all Americans and the World live a better and more healthy life.
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January 23, 2009
"Inspiring our youth to get a sense of what discovery is all about"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn0BKDYiYmI
Obama sees science as a tool for igniting curiousity and uplifting the whole of our country. Something that science has done for myself.
I am thankful to have a President so committed to…
January 23, 2009
Let us hope that this "demise of anti-intellectualism" and "scientific renaissance" doesn't bring the same results as were seen the last time those terms were bandied about. The French and Russian revolutions left an awful lot of "scientifically" executed citizens behind.
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January 23, 2009
Science: The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena; Knowledge, especially that gained through experience.
And these are the essence of the talents so sorely needed in our world; culturally, philosophically and economically. It…
January 23, 2009
I think that science should play as big, or bigger, of a role in the Obama administration as religion did in the Bush administration except that it should be used to inspire action and inform decisions rather than to insight violence and instill fear.
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January 23, 2009
The rightful place of science is in guiding decisions that involve how we live on the planet. The spirit of open inquiry should guide us, rather than preconceived notions about how things ought to be, based on narrow beliefs. All of these anti-evolution people who say that "evolution is just a…
January 22, 2009
As we welcome the Obama administration into its first period, everyone at Sb is eager to see it restore science to its rightful place in US policy making and political culture. Now, from an archaeologist's point of view, there is one area of US law where science is sorely lacking. And in this case…
January 22, 2009
Today I received an email from the hivemind, saying, in part:
In
his first speech as President-elect last November, Barack Obama
reminded us of the promise of "a world connected by our own science and
imagination." He recently stated, "promoting science isn't just
about providing resources--it's…
January 22, 2009
Make no little plans; they have no power to stir men's blood.
---Daniel Burnham
The last eight years have seen subtle and not-so subtle predations on the practice of medicine. Will the new administration be able to promote the kind of change we need? Let's review some of the challenges facing…
January 22, 2009
By David Egilman
On September 15, 2008 pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly pleaded guilty to committing the crime of off-label marketing of Zyprexa, an antipsychotic. Lilly has profited handsomely from the marketing of this drug, making over $30 billion. The Department of Justice (DOJ) claims that the…
January 22, 2009
Last week The Pump Handle featured an article by Carole Bass entitled Why is Black Lung back? In response, a former coal miner offers his views on why coal miners in the U.S. continue to develop and suffer from this occupational lung disease that is 100% preventable. He writes:
Thank you for…
January 21, 2009
I was on the National Mall yesterday when Barack Obama took the oath of office and gave his inaugural address, and the mood was both delighted and solemn. The densely packed crowd alternated between loud cheers and reverent silence as Obama spoke.
Our new president was blunt in his description of…
January 19, 2009
Tomorrowâs Inauguration events are the main attraction this week, but thousands of people also turned out along train tracks over the past several days to cheer President-Elect Obama as he made his way from Chicago to Washington in a historic rail car. The journey was noteworthy not only because it…
January 16, 2009
There were lots of good posts this week about health challenges around the world:
Marjan Siadat at Detroit Receiving provides a grim look at the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe.Â
 Amie Newman at RH Reality Check reminds us that having a child remains one of the biggest health risks for women…
January 16, 2009
The Charleston Gazette's Ken Ward reports:
"Less than a week before leaving office, the Bush administration is preparing to issue an emergency health advisory for drinking water polluted with the toxic chemical C8. ...EPA plans to recommend reducing consumption of water that contains more than 0.…
January 16, 2009
In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary-Designee Tom Daschle, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) urged the new administration to emphasize the health of the workforce. Laura Walter writes in EHS Today:
ACOEMâs workforce-centered health reform plan is…
January 16, 2009
As some sharp-eyed reader may have already spotted, the SciencePunk blog has relocated to the Seed Media Group's ScienceBlogs. Let's take a moment to absorb these new surroundings.
OK, done? Those of you who have already run back to check sciencepunk.com will find it too has changed substantially…
January 15, 2009
OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) cleared yesterday's OSHA's advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on the butter-flavoring agent diacetyl. The OIRA website indicates the review was completed on 1/14/09, with a recommendation for some change(s) to the document.…
January 15, 2009
By Anthony Robbins & Phyllis Freeman
If our new President and the Congress accept the pervasive perception that universal access to medical services will address all important health needs, our nation will miss a magnificent opportunity to prevent disease and to hold off unnecessary medical…
January 15, 2009
by revere, cross-posted at Effect Measure
Last week we alerted you to a gross miscarriage of justice involving two doctors in Iran. Many of you responded by calling the Mission of Iran at the UN and signing a petition. I wish I could report good news in this update, but so far what we have heard is…
January 14, 2009
By Lindsey Realmuto
As of January 1, 2009 we can all rest assured that pharmaceutical companies may voluntarily stop barraging our physicians and nurses with free mugs, pens, and trinkets carrying drug logos. PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry trade group, has updated their industry marketing…
January 14, 2009
by revere, cross-posted at Effect Measure
One of the triumphs of 19th and 20th century public health was the provision of piped water into cities and towns. With the use of modern methods of disinfection (primarily chlorination) water as a source of mass distributed poisons rapidly receded, and…
January 13, 2009
By Leslie Mancuso
Imagine being diagnosed with a preventable disease in a country where access to quality health care services is not available to you. Not because you live in a remote area or because people don't care, but because the training was not available for the skilled healthcare providers…
January 13, 2009
Yesterday, I was pressed for time when I wrote "OSHA revises its field ops manual."  I didn't have time to comb through the new 322-page manual , let alone spend much time writing the blog post itself. A funny thing happens sometimes when I rush to put together a blog post---like a magnet…
January 12, 2009
You might have heard this advice before, but the National Safety Council has just made it official: They call on motorists to stop using cell phones â even those with hands-free attachments â while driving. Theyâre also urging state governments to pass laws banning phoning and text messaging while…