UPDATE - BREAKING NEWS: UCS UNCOVERS NEW SCIENTIFIC ABUSES

Dear Beth,  

Despite the widely acknowledged concerns of the scientific community about governmental abuses of science, the Bush administration’s suppression and distortion of scientific analysis on a wide range of issues has continued seemingly unchecked.

Today, UCS released several new cases that document additional scientific manipulation and abuse, from suppression of federal agency research to political litmus tests for scientific advisory committee participation. You can read about the new cases and stay abreast of the most recent news coverage relating to scientific integrity by visiting the RSI website. 

The new cases
For example, according to report sources:

** Administration officials purposely disregarded extensive scientific studies conducted by five federal and state agencies designed to minimize environmental damage from mining in Appalachia.

** The director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based decisions on the protection of rare trumpeter swans on a scientifically flawed, non-peer-reviewed report and seriously misrepresented another study.

** Scientific advisory panel members continue to be dismissed or rejected based not on their scientific credentials and technological expertise, but on their political views.

Scientific Community Unites
As you know, 62 prominent scientists and science advisors released a statement in February charging the Bush administration with widespread and unprecedented manipulation, distortion, and suppression of government science.

Since that time, more than 4,000 scientists have signed on from around the United States, including 48 Nobel laureates, 61 National Medal of Science winners, 8 Crafoord Prize winners, and 125 members of the National Academy of Sciences. A current (and searchable!)  list of all signers, as well as a  sampling of prominent signers, is now posted on the UCS website. 

A broad base of support within the scientific community will help UCS meet the goals of this ambitious campaign: to curtail the current censorship and misrepresentation of scientific information and to reform the process through which science informs public policy decisions. Please encourage your colleagues to sign on to the scientists’ statement by forwarding this email or  clicking here. If you would like to publicize the campaign within academic or scientific societies to which you belong, please email rsi@....

Next Steps
UCS will continue to investigate and publicize cases of scientific abuse. At the same time, we are convening groups of scientists and congressional representatives to create and advance real solutions that will protect independent science from political tampering. Here are a few other ways to keep informed and get involved:

· UCS is working with a coalition of scientists and nonprofit groups to create a series of events at universities around the country this fall. 
· UCS is participating in a conference on scientific integrity put on by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, DC, on July 12. To register, visit CSPI.
· UCS will participate in the Ecological Society of America annual meeting in Portland, Oregon on August 1-6 to engage more scientists in our efforts. Please stop by our booth! If you would like to work with us to bring our campaign to another professional society, email rsi@.... 

You will receive details about these initiatives and more in the coming weeks. If you have questions, or would like to become more involved, please email rsi@....

Thank you for your support.  

Sincerely,

Kevin Knobloch
President

*  read about the new cases that were released today
*  review the list of scientist statement signers and search for colleagues
*  tell a colleague or friend about this campaign

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