With great trepidation, I criticize Dan Sarewitz
Dan Sarewitz worries about creeping bias in science (emphasis added): Alarming cracks are starting to penetrate deep into the scientific edifice. They threaten ...
Category: Special Interest
A very obvious answer
While asking presidential candidates to engage in a meaningful science policy debate, G. Pascal Zachary wonders: Is there a way to discuss efficiency and outcom...
Scientists and the economic crisis yet again
David Bruggeman’s sharp comment is worth reprinting in full: From where I sit, both Stilgoe and Macilwain are attempting to remind the community of two th...
Scientists and the economic crisis, ctd.
Via the Jack Stilgoe post I just discussed, Colin Macilwain exhorts scientists to deal with a world in crisis: Those involved in science policy sometimes seem t...
Scientists, the economic crisis, and special interest strategies
Jack Stilgoe criticizes scientists for not doing more to address the economic crisis: Much of the rhetoric of the scientific community has been about protecting...
Mixed feelings about science literacy outreach, part 2
As much as it annoys me, I can’t bring myself to complain too much about Marcelo Gleiser’s short essay: This shaping of our worldview is not restric...
On the lack of consequences
In a recent exchange, Peter decries “overblown public assessments” of the benefits of science, and warns that “putting out hype that encourage...
Scientists as a special interest
In the context of discussing the status of science in the federal budget, Matt Nisbet asks: “as a matter of social responsibility, do scientists have an o...
Against hypocrisy
A couple months ago I was a bit too glib in some of my writing on basic research. From my comment on Ryan’s blog: I think it’s perfectly understandable a...
Exaggerating the benefits of science
Over at Adapt Already Ryan Meyer highlights a recent Times article about the disappointing output from the Human Genome Project. In typical fashion scientists ...