Tonga Latest News Information: Long wait may be over for the guidelines of science

Enlargement of the Union of concerned scientists

The sticker distributed by the Union of Concerned Scientists in San Francisco this week.

Union of Concerned Scientists sticker distributed by the Union of Concerned Scientists in San Francisco this week.

Guidelines long-awaited ordered by President Obama last year to avoid that research Government against alterations or suppressed political purposes, which can protect the integrity of government scientists could be released as soon as Friday.

The guidelines are almost 11/2 years late. During that time, management has received criticism for its own scientific errors.

Obama had been in Office less than two months, when ordered his science advisors to develop guidelines. He told government researchers gathered at the White House who wanted to protect their work from political interference.

"This is enabling scientists, as those who are here today, to do their jobs free of manipulation or coercion and hear what they say us, even when it is not desirable, especially when it is uncomfortable," said.

Disillusioned scientists

The guidelines were supposed to be completed in four months. Instead, has been 21. As in other areas, where management has had problems to fulfil their promises of noble principles, ardent supporters have been disappointed. Some government scientists have complained that they are still being amordazadas midlevel administrators.

"In recent weeks and months, there have been complaints and allegations that some of the same practices people complained about the Bush administration have not changed in federal agencies," said Roger Pielke, Jr., a professor at the University of Colorado, who writes about the intersection of science and public policy. "So I think that every day there are not outside, people are looking for and want to see that things are different."

Republic of Georgia Paul Broun, ranking Republican on the Subcommittee on oversight of science, said is eager to see the recommendations, but "I'm not holding my breath."

Estimates of oil spill

Broun complained about the delay of administration in the publication of the guidelines and on some of the scientific pronouncements from the White House itself.

"I am a doctor." As a scientist, I am concerned that we have scientific integrity, which does not censor scientists, we have good peer review, "Said Broun."

Complained that during the Gulf Coast oil spill management stuck with a best estimate of how much oil was leaking from the well, while initially dismiss more accurate forecasts of independent scientists, contacted by NPR included. Later, the White House officials offer an over-optimistic estimate of how much oil had disappeared.

The pattern frustrates Jeff Ruch, who runs a group called public employees for environmental responsibility.

"If these are examples of Obama management practice decision making based on Science, who have a long, long way to go", said Ruch.

His group claimed to find out why it has taken both to make public integrity guidelines.

"Reportedly had draft rules that have been shared with the Office of management and budget, and others," Ruch, said. And we are at a loss as to why a policy on transparency should be developed in secret.

At a scientific meeting in San Francisco this week, where he was talking Science Advisor of White House John Holdren, the stickers of the Union of Concerned Scientists distributed by saying, "Hey, Mr President, ready to scientific integrity".

Complex number

Holdren repeated his promise that the guidelines would be ready at last year, adding that the process has been more difficult than expected.

Pielke, Professor at the University of Colorado, suspects that probably true.

"I believe that one of the reasons why these guidelines draw has taken so long probably has less to do with something nefarious happening, but the sheer complexity of the issue and the realization that simply cannot mandate how science is ruled by means of a policy or a set of policies," he said.

Still, Pielke, said, it important that the House white to finally deliver the guidelines promised to protect the public's confidence in what scientists have to say.

"If not protect that process could easily reach a situation where you have Republican science and democratic science," he said. And when does it, you are throwing away what is most valuable and what is most important about science, which has nothing to do with the partisanship, but this ability to resolve the empirical claims.

Pielke added that given the wide range of organisms covered by the guidelines, many details will probably have to be filled in later. It hoped that when the guidelines are finally released, you will be asked to many people, "what we have waited a year and a half for this?"

Policy

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