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Science is ideally supposed to be the nonpartisan pursuit of knowledge, but the Bush administration has a track record of suppressing research results that don't match up with Republican ideals, a best-selling author told Utah law students Monday.
Chris Mooney, author of The Republican War on Science, outlined some of the charges in a talk at the University of Utah's College of Law.
Various federal agencies, including NASA, have tried to muzzle researchers from discussing the issue of global warming, according to numerous published reports.
Mooney added that the Bush administration in 2005 also ignored a Food and Drug Administration panel's 23-4 vote to recommend allowing over-the-counter sales of the "morning-after pill," which could prevent pregnancy within 72 hours of sex. A small minority of advisers suggested that not enough information was available on the drug, and the FDA delayed making a ruling on easing access to the drug.
FDA officials finally allowed over-the-counter sales of the Plan B drug in 2006.
Republicans are not alone in trying to spin science.
Democrat John Edwards, while running for vice president in 2004, said that a vote for his running mate, John Kerry, would lead to more stem cell research. He went on to imply that such research could help Christopher Reeve and others stand up and walk away from their wheelchairs.
Mooney noted there is no guarantee any such treatment option is imminent.
With Democrats in control of Congress, hearings are under way to investigate some instances of the Bush administration's suppression of scientific data. But looking at past mistakes may not be enough.
"Now is the time to talk about solutions," Mooney said.
He stressed that reform legislation is needed to deter political meddling in science.
One idea would be to bring back the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, which was charged with providing unbiased advice to lawmakers on science issues. The office was eliminated in 1995, after the GOP took control of Congress.
Mooney said there are also problems in the news media as well as with scientists themselves in communicating science.
In many cases, journalists covering evolution and global warming will quote speakers on both sides of the issues. The problem is there is no credible doubt among scientists about evolution or humans' role in global warming, he said.
Scientists need to do more than toss data out into the public forum, he said.
They need to take a more proactive role in preventing outside parties from spinning their results.
Tom Oesleby, a professional geologist who attended the talk, said he agreed with most of Mooney's points, saying scientists need to learn to communicate better.
"Information needs to be more digestible to the public," Oesleby said.