Politics and Science
sheril | January 16, 2009
We recently learned that our friend and ScienceDebate co-founder Lawrence Krauss will co-chair the Board of Sponsors of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists with Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman. Together they aim to re-energize a national discussion on the reduction
of nuclear weapons stockpiles, fight proliferation, and encourage
disarmament. The Board--founded in 1948 by Albert Einstein--aims to support the efforts of the Bulletin to 'amplify voices of reason and encourage rational policymaking on nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, climate change and biotechnology.'
Krauss, Director of a new…
cmooney | January 16, 2009I forgot to link it on Wednesday, given how busy we all were at Arizona State planning the future of ScienceDebate (about which I hope we'll have more to say soon). But my latest Science Progress column, which has already prompted some critical responses, is about Obama's OIRA pick, Cass Sunstein. Without disapproving of the choice, I argue that there are definitely some serious issues that have been raised about Sunstein's stance on the role of "cost benefit analysis" and "reason" in the regulatory process:
...peering into Sunstein's writings on risk, rationality, and regulation--and other…
cmooney | January 15, 2009I have a new piece on Slate exploring precisely this question. Here's the core of it:
If the war on science is over, we're now entering the postwar phase of reconstruction--the scientific equivalent of nation-building. The Bush science controversies were just one manifestation of a deeper and long-standing gulf between the science community and the broader American public, one with roots stretching back to our indigenous tradition of anti-intellectualism (as so famously described by historian Richard Hofstadter in his classic work from 1963) and Yankee distrust of expertise and authority. So…
cmooney | January 13, 2009I am currently in Phoenix, Arizona, and Sheril is in the air over the United States on her way here. We're gathering at Arizona State University for an intense 24 hour meeting with Lawrence Krauss, Matthew Chapman, Shawn Otto, Darlene Cavalier, and others involved organizing in the ScienceDebate2008 push. Now's the time to take the incredible momentum that this initiative generated and figure out how to channel it towards further endeavors in 2009 and beyond.
To that end, we'd very much like to hear your suggestions about what ScienceDebate2008 should grow into, how it should evolve.…
cmooney | January 8, 2009That's the news from the Chicago Tribune. I'm interested to hear whether any environmentalists are going to be rattled by this choice. Sunstein is an ingenious scholar, and continues the whole "best and brightest" motif of the Obama administration--so welcome after so many years of Bush anti-intellectualism. But on the other hand, some of Sunstein's views on regulation are controversial, although certainly very thoughtful.
Important question: Will he roll back the Bush administration's overuse of the Data Quality Act?
By the way, I haven't read all of Sunstein's books, but I have read…
cmooney | January 7, 2009From The New York Times:
As for the startling estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, if it proves accurate, the budget deficit will be nearly two and a half times bigger than the previous record shortfall of $455 billion reached in 2008.
The estimate was far higher than most other analysts have predicted. If combined with the gigantic stimulus package of tax cuts and new spending that Mr. Obama is preparing, which could amount to nearly $800 billion over two years, the shortfall this year could hit $1.6 trillion.
How do you think the federal science budget, which has…
cmooney | January 6, 2009CNN is reporting that one of its own is being considered for the Surgeon General post. I have nothing against Sanjay Gupta, and I don't think he's unqualified. In fact, someone with so much television and communication experience would probably help raise the profile of the office.
However, let's not forget that he Gupta and CNN really made fools of themselves in an episode from 2002 that we should never forget--the Clonaid fiasco. As I reported back in 2004 in Columbia Journalism Review:
Consider the great 2002 cloning hoax. In the media lull following Christmas, one Brigitte Boisselier --…
sheril | January 6, 2009
Science Progress has just announced their most popular features of 2008:
Some of them dealt with major controversies over political interference with science at the Environmental Protection Agency, the teaching of creationism, and women's access to reproductive health services. Others tackled challenges of a networked world, or considered how policy can better harness the talents of a burgeoning scientific workforce.
It's worth a read so go see what made the list (you might even recognize a couple of the authors). Still, I'm most interested to hear from readers... What would you rank as the…
sheril | January 4, 2009
Since NOAA accounts for 65% of the Commerce Department budget, I'll be paying close attention to what happens next. Details at the New York Times:
WASHINGTON -- Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, one of the country's most prominent Hispanic politicians and President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be commerce secretary, on Sunday dropped out of consideration for that post. He attributed his decision to the ongoing investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico.
sheril | December 30, 2008The latest publication of Issues In Science And Technology features an article I co-authored with ScienceDebate CEO Shawn Lawrence Otto. We discuss building the ScienceDebate2008 initiative, lessons from the election, and what's needed to create an environment where the public's understanding and appreciation of science policy will make scientists critical in the political process. Here's an excerpt from Science on the Campaign Trail:
Probing further, the Science Debate team learned that science was seen as a niche topic by the campaigns, and a presidential debate dedicated to science policy…
cmooney | December 20, 2008Here's the video from his weekly address:
And the full text can be read here.
There are many gems in here; scientists are going to be beyond ecstatic about this speech, and this team that Obama has named. To me, the newsiest item is that Obama officially says that John Holdren will be "Assistant to the President for Science and Technology." That means the science adviser is being restored to cabinet-level status, as Obama pledged would occur during the campaign.
Another important thing to look for: How soon is Holdren confirmed by the Senate in his role, and officially set to work? I'm…
cmooney | December 18, 2008That's what my friend Eli Kintisch is reporting over at Science's new blog, Science Insider.
It's also something I suggested in a column for Seed last year, where I wrote, "In science policy circles, one also sometimes hears mention of Harvard's John Holdren, former American Association for the Advancement of Science president and an energy and climate expert, as a top science adviser candidate."
If Eli's report is true, this is an awesome choice--and Holdren is yet another ScienceDebate2008 supporter! Here's his video:
cmooney | December 11, 2008I have a DeSmogBlog post further praising the selection of Steven Chu to head the Energy Department. Here's a quote:
A few weeks ago in Los Angeles, I saw Chu speak at a National Academy of Sciences event devoted to connecting science and the entertainment industry. Chu focused on global warming and compared our civilization to the Titanic, about to hit an iceberg unless we wake up and recognize the course we're on. It was a brilliant message, although I can testify that while Chu may be an electrifying choice for Energy Secretary, he is not a very electrifying lecturer.
But far more…
cmooney | December 3, 2008How and when will the Obama transition team announce the president's science adviser? And will the rollout be given the prominence it deserves?
These are questions I address in my latest Science Progress column. You can read the full piece here.
sheril | November 17, 2008Our latest post at Talking Science was motivated by Bush's announcement last Wednesday of plans to sell the rights to oil and gas off Virginia's coast.
Our perspective should not surprise regular readers, and the principal message is that we need to stay vigilant about protecting our environment as the outgoing administration seeks to enact an onslaught of last minute rule changes.
You can read the full post here.
cmooney | November 10, 2008After so, so many emails about a possible Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., appointment to head EPA, we had to blog about it over at Talking Science. The gist?
Such an appointment would be problematic and controversial for all the reasons that folks like Orac have cited. However, it hasn't happened yet...and until it does, it's just rumor, right? Not a Democratic War on Science.
You can read the full post here.
cmooney | November 5, 2008My post-election Science Progress column--written after I woke up super early and felt the effect of all the champagne--is now up. You can guess the gist, so I'll just give you the punch line and you can follow the link for details:
Despite many challenges ahead, it's clearly a new day for science in Washington, and there are strong grounds for feeling optimistic. For scientists who so struggled under George W. Bush, there's a very real sense that the clouds are parting. Now, we await a still-clearer signal of how president Obama will govern science--his pick of a presidential science adviser…
sheril | November 4, 2008From the New York Times:
President Bush's aides have been scrambling to change rules and regulations on the environment, civil liberties and abortion rights, among others -- few for the good. Most presidents put on a last-minute policy stamp, but in Mr. Bush's case it is more like a wrecking ball. We fear it could take months, or years, for the next president to identify and then undo all of the damage.
In other words, regardless of the results tonight, stay vigilant.
sheril | October 29, 2008I contribute to another Seed blog called 'A Vote For Science' where we recently launched our 'YouTube Challenge':
Scientists and Engineers for America Action Fund and ScienceBlogs have teamed up to bring you "A Vote For Science." Here we will feature videos of scientists explaining who they are voting for and why.
Jennifer, Lawrence, and many others have already submitted videos, and I finally recorded mine from the road, taking a slightly different approach:
Readers are encouraged to upload your own YouTube videos and make sure you tag them with 'avoteforscience.'