Scientists: Keep Science Free of Politics

A growing chorus of voices in the U.S. warns that science is becoming increasingly politicized, and support is growing a policy changes to prevent future government interference in scientific matters.

Complaints about such interference have grown ever louder under the current Bush administration. Scientists have accused administration officials of working to stifle research and public information about climate change, endangered species protection, pollution, reproductive issues and other subjects.

Just last week, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) organized a public appeal to Congress and the next U.S. president for an end to political meddling in science. The group's statement was signed by Nobel Prize winners and other leading scientists.

"Four years ago -- almost to the day -- UCS unveiled a statement signed by 62 leading scientists voicing concern over the manipulation, distortion, and suppression of federal government science," said Kurt Gottfried, co-founder of the UCS and emeritus professor of physics at Cornell University, "Since that time nearly 15,000 scientists have added their signatures. Now we are using that momentum to push for solutions."

Several scientists on hand for the press conference described their own experiences with political interference in their work.

"If the next administration and Congress wholly embrace and implement the scientists' recommendations, Americans would be safer," said Robin Ingle, who formerly worked as a mathematical statistician for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. "A political appointee at my agency prevented my research on all-terrain-vehicle safety from reaching the public, even when avoidable deaths and injuries occurred."