My Point of Inquiry Interview

Deutsch gave interviews today. Ready slings and arrows, and prepare your tiny, tiny, violins.

I attended the Tufts event tonight, and wanted to share my thoughts as I left the event a bit unsettled by the wide range of topics you brushed on without getting much of an opportunity to delve into any of them in great detail.

Here's some thoughts and questions I have following the event:

1. I thought you hit on an insightful political analysis of the "war on science" when you mentioned the Republicans' appeasement of its base (religious conservatives and corporate interests) as a source of this move away from sound science. I would have loved to hear more on what sort of trends you found in your research that supports saying this appeasement is to blame and is increasing the politicalization of science. What makes you think it's anything more than what the Republicans have always done just amplified because it's a predominantly one party government?

2. I find it a bit unrealistic to offer as a suggestion to scientists that they support legislation that would release scientific reports from political editing. Political editing can be necessary/helpful to society. For instance, when scientists and economists reach the conclusion that the best solution to a pollution problem is to concentrate the pollution in the lowest wage counties and the least developed countries to minimize the costs/impacts a political edit can correct for public values/ethics. I know much of the political editing under the Bush Administration has withheld scientific information and not recommendations, and would agree that scientific findings should be protected from politicalization. Maybe as a future policy advisor I'm trying to retain a role for myself in policy making, but I'm wondering what legislation you had in mind (and if what you suggested tonight was an overgeneralization or really where you think the government should go with regard to scientific reports.)

3. Have you researched or written on the number of corporate interests who serve in leadership positions on the U.S. EPA's scientific advisory boards? Is this a new or growing trend? I've heard Dr. Tyrone Hayes talk about Syngenta's supporters in positions of authority on these boards and how that has hampered EPA action on Atrazine, and I'm wondering if you've noticed the same thing. How corrupt have the EPA science advisory boards become?

When you were asked about why call it the Republican War on Science which seems to preach at the choir I think you would have been justified to say that this topic doesn't have a broad choir (maybe at Universities, research and advocacy organizations, etc. but not in the public overall.) I look forward to reading the book this summer.

Thanks for sharing your insights.

great interview on Point of Inquiry. One question though...where exactly were you giving the interview from? Sounded like a shopping mall or something!

Aw man! Can you please give us more of a heads up for events like this? I definitely would have attended the Tufts event if I had known about it in advance.