A New Regime

It's been hard to keep up with all the good news since administrations have changed in Washington. I hardly know what to rail against anymore! OK, well maybe the changes have been that dramatic, but let's talk about some huge victories for anyone interested in seeing science free from political interference.

Earlier this week, President Obama released an official memorandum to the Office of Science and Technology Policy directing them to build a strategy to prevent political interference in science. He vowed to make the role of science in the federal government sacrosanct (or at least independent and free from political and industry pressure) by ensuring that "scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda--and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."

Some beautiful highlights:

*"Political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions."
*"The selection of scientists and technology professionals for positions in the executive branch should be based on their scientific and technological knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity."
*"When scientific or technological information is considered in policy decisions, the information should be subject to well-established scientific processes, including peer review where appropriate, and each agency should appropriately and accurately reflect that information in complying with and applying relevant statutory standards"
*Each agency should adopt such additional procedures, including any appropriate whistleblower protections, as are necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific and technological information and processes on which the agency relies in its decisionmaking or otherwise uses or prepares.

I could just go on and on. When dealing with federal officials, it's always best to be guarded, and I will remain so. Industry can be devious and ingenious in the way it worms itself into the process. But after eight years of science being pushed to the side, treated as just another ideology, scientists silenced, their research censored or altered, I find it hard, admittedly, to contain my excitement.


If you're interested in reading this historic document, check it out online here.