The suppression of Scientific Dissent

1. Suppression of Dissent The Influence of Political Appointments on Science Policy

In its most general sense, the suppression of dissenting views is common within the scientific community; peer review is an example of one necessary suppression process. The downside to this method of suppression arises in the form of publication bias, where different types of results are systematically handled differently. Generally speaking, the author continues to be free to seek publication elsewhere.

When the dissenting scientific view threatens a group with theloss of power , that group may react with suppression that can be categorized into one of the following types of action:

Direct

Indirect

Self-censoring

Historical Examples

Copernicius :Self-censoredhisDe revolutionibus orbium coelestium( On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres ) for many years

Galileo :Indirect(philospohers refusal to peer through his telescope) anddirect actions(banning ofDialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems )

Giordino Bruno :Direct Action(burned at the stake after refusing to recant his belief in the principle of plenitude)

What we found is that researchers are very aware of controversy and decide what to study...in relation to what they think is appropriate. It's these silent rules that really guide what researchers do.

Joanna Kempner, a sociologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor commenting on her study that analyzed the underpinnings of science research suppression.

These results infer that many acts of suppression will forever go undocumented. Even so, there is a complement of recent, highly visible cases at agencies all across the Federal Government.

The following slides present a selection of these suppressive events and the responsible political officials (many of whom have little science background).

Lovgren, S (2005)Self-censorship limits science more tha laws, study says.Available at http://news.

nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0210_050210_censorship.html

Science is respected and protected and highly valued by the administration.

Donald Tighe, of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy responding to questions about the activities of a presidential appointee at NASA in 2006

Revkin, A. (2006).NASA chief backs openness . Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/

04climate.html

Politicization of science policies within the Bush Administration started occurring even before the election

I oppose federal funding for stem cell research that involves destroying living human embryos.

George Bush, stating his position while campaigning as a Presidential Candidate in 2000

In 2002, anadverse impact studyon the effects a proposed coal-fired power plant in western Kentucky would have at the Mammoth Cave National Park wasrescindedafter a private meeting between the National Park Service Director (Fran Mainella), the Deputy Interior Secretary (Steven Griles), and the power plant company (Peabody Energy Corp).

Peabody Energy Corp is listed as having made large contributions to Republican efforts during the 2000 and 2002 campaigns.

Bush officials intervened to silence objections to coal plant near Mammoth Cave National Park . Available at

http://www.nrdc.org/BushRecord/2002_11.asp

Soft money donors found for Peabody . Available at http://www.opensecrets.org/softmoney/softcomp1.asp?

xtName=Peabody

In the past, scientists have written their reports, said, This is what the science is, and the policymakers made their decisions from it.

Decisions that come out of Fish and Wildlife ignore the science and fabricate evidence in the crudest, most unsophisticated way.

Stuart Pimm, professor of conservation ecology at Duke University, protesting at Capital Hill in January, 2008

Williamson, E. (2008).Scientists take complaints about interference to hill . Available at http://www.washingtonpost.

com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/15/AR2008011503428.html

Specifically, the complainant alleged that [Julie MacDonald, Deputy Assistant secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks] had bullied, insulted, and harassed the professional staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to change documents and alter biological reporting regarding the Endangered Species Program. As our investigation progressed, we also developed information that MacDonald had disclosed nonpublic information to private sector sources.

Results of an investigation by the Office the Inspector General.

A policy was put in place at the US Geological Survey stating that the director (Mark Myers) and the communication office would be informed of:

findings or data that may be especially newsworthy, have an impact on government policy, or contradict previous public understanding to ensure that proper officials are notified and that communication strategies are developed.

I feel as though weve got someone looking over our shoulder at every damn thing we do. And to me thats a very scary thing. I worry that it borders on censorship.

Jim Estes, from the USGS field station at Santa Cruz, CA

A political appointee at my agency prevented my research on all-terrain-vehicle safety from reaching the public, even when deaths and injuries occurred.

Robin Ingle, a former statistician at the Consumer Product Safety Commission commenting on the delayed release - and attempted rewording - of CPSCs annual ATV report.

Appel, A. (2008). Top scientists want research free from politics. Available at http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?

idnews=41205

Ingle, R. (2007)Which toys are okay? Dont ask the safety police . Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-

dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122101555_pf.html

I can no longer serve as staff when scientific and clinical evidence, fully evaluated and recommended for approval by the professional staff here, has been overruled.

Susan F. Wood, Assistant FDA Commissioner responding to FDA Commissioner Lester Crawfords decision to further delay approving over-the-counter emergency contraception.

Kaufman, M. (2005).FDA official quits over delay on Plan B.Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-

dyn/content/article/2005/08/31/AR2005083101271.html

The reality is that the nations doctor has been marginalized and relegated to a position with no independent budget and with supervisors who are political appointees with partisan agendas. Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried.

Former surgeon General Richard Carmona testifying to the House Government Reform Committee in July, 2007.

Rovner, J. (2007) Ex-Surgeon General says administration interfered. Available at http://www.npr.org/templates/

story/story.php?storyId=11854247

The latest government tests show that New Yorkers, including those returning to work in the Wall Street area, are not being exposed to dangerous levels of contaminants, like asbestos, said Christie Whitman, who oversees the Environmental Protection Agency.

Reported in the New York Times, September 2001

A comprehensive 2003 report by the E.P.A.s own inspector general that concluded that Mrs. Whitman did not have sufficient scientific information to warrant stating, on Sept. 18, 2001, that the air in New York was safe to breathe. The report also detailed how the White House had altered her press releases.

Reported in the New Times, June 2007

Tests find air safe near ground zero . (2001) Available at http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?

res=9B0DE5DA143AF937A1575AC0A9679C8B63

DePalma, A. (2007). Ex-EPA chief defends role in 9/11 response . Available at

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/nyregion/26whitman.html

They were attempts to create a more moderate pictureNo doubt some people did interpret their jobs as to reducing the fear factor.

Dr. James Mahoney, former director of Climate Change Science Program explaining Philip Cooneys edits to a 2003 EPA report on Global Warming. These edits deleted links to man-made causes and weakened the discussion of potential consequences .

Pegg, J. (2007).Effects of Bush climate science censorship linger. Available athttp://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/

feb2007/2007-02-07-10.asp

I speak today as myself and not as a spokesman for NASA.

Jim Hansen, in the opening remarks to his presentation,Communicating the Dangers and Opportunities in Global Warming,at the 2006 meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

Dr. Hansen had been threatened with dire consequences should he continue his public appeals for action to limit the emissions of gases that are implicated in global warming.

Hart, I. (2006)Jim Hansen and Goreticipation . Available at http://scienceblogs.com/integrityofscience/

2006/12/agu_day_4_jim_hansen_and_goret.php

George Deutsch (a journalism graduate) was identified as one of the presidential appointees within the public affairs office at NASA who had passed along such warnings.

Mr. Deutsch also began reviewing (and rejecting) requests for interviews with Dr. Hansen.

Additionally, Mr. Deutsch offered his input during the creation of NASA scholastic materials

Revkin, C. (2006).NASA chief backs agencyopnness. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/

04climate.html

Associated Press Stylebook . (2000). Available at http://alumni.imsa.edu/org/hadron/ap.pdf

It is not NASA's place, nor should it be to make a declaration such as this about the existence of the universe that discounts intelligent design by a creator.

This is more than a science issue, it is a religious issue. And I would hate to think that young people would only be getting one-half of this debate from NASA. That would mean we had failed to properly educate the very people who rely on us for factual information the most.

George Deutsch, in emails directing a NASA contractor (Flint Wild) to add the word theory to every mention of the Big bang in Web presentations on Einstein that were being created for middle-school aged students during 2005.

Mr. Deutsch also used as part of his reasoning, the existence of a Big Bang Theory entry in The Associated Press Stylebook.

04climate.html

Associated Press Stylebook . (2000). Available at http://alumni.imsa.edu/org/hadron/ap.pdf

It is not the job of public-affairs officers to alter, filter or adjust engineering or scientific material produced by NASA's technical staff.

NASA administrator Michael Griffin, commenting in an e-mail message to NASA's 19,000 employees a week after Dr. Hansens complaints were quoted in the New York Times.

04climate.html

Responses from within the

scientific community

The 2006 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) included a session that assessed the Bush administrations strained relationship with science.

Scientists need to recognize the potency of the threat this philosophy represents to the long cherished independence of US science.

David Baltimore, Nobel laureate and (at the time) president-elect of the AAAS

The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a number of reports while tracking political interference.

The 2004 statement onScientific Integrity in Policy Makingwas initially signed by 62 leading scientists.

In 2006, the report had been updated and signed by 10,600 scientists.

Scientific Integrity in Policy Making . (2004). Available at http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/interference/scientific-

integrity-in-policy-making-704.html

10,600 scientists condemn political interference in science . (2006) Available at http://www.ucsusa.org/news/

press_release/10600-scientists-condemn.html

Responses from within Congress

The evidence before the Committee leads to one inescapable conclusion: the Bush Administration has engaged in a systematic effort to manipulate climate change science and mislead policymakers and the public about the dangers of global warming.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, December 2007

Committee report: White house engaged in systematic effort to manipulate climate change science.(2007). Available at

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1653

Science does not dictate policy it informs the policy decisions we make. We rely upon federal scientists to produce information not propaganda. We need complete, objective, factual information as input to our policy decisionsthe incorporation of these provisions into NOAAs organic legislation makes clear that NOAAs science and its scientists will be protected from manipulation by shifts in the political winds.

Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) from the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology in support of his Amendment to HR 5450

The Miller Amendment was defeated: 17 - 13

Committee reports NOAA organization bill - again.(2006) Available at http://sciencedems.house.gov/press/

PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1141

While this was by no means an inclusive list of all suppressive activities during this administration, the snapshot speaks volumes as to just how far the level of interference has reached.

Whether a new administration will bring positive change is

left to be seen, especially sincestopping the interferenceis only the first step

Even if we succeed in lifting this heavy hand of censorship there is still the problem of getting the political leadership to embrace the findings put forward by the scientists.

Rick Piltz, a former scientist at the Climate Change Science Program, speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Pegg, J. (2007)Effects of Bush climate scince censorship linger.Available at http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/

feb2007/2007-02-07-10.asp