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Urge Your Senator To Protect Scientist Whistleblowers
Federal scientists need to be able to speak out when public health and safety is jeopardized by senior government officials who manipulate, suppress, or otherwise politicize science. The House and Senate have passed different whistleblower protection bills that need to be reconciled into final legislation that can be passed and sent to the president. But time is running out and the Senate is dragging its heels. Please call and ask your senator to push for passage of a strong whistleblower protection bill that includes specific protections for federal scientists.
Which cartoon should grace the cover of the 2009 Defending Science Calendar? The 12 finalists for this year's Science Idol Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest have been announced, but it is up to you to decide the winner. Voice your opinion—Vote today!
UCS on Capitol Hill
UCS Senior Scientist Dr. Francesca Grifo testified May 21 before the House of Representatives on the misuse of endangered species science. She also testified May 20 at a House hearing on political interference in air pollution science at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Interference at the EPA
A new UCS investigation of the Environmental Protection Agency reveals an agency under siege: hundreds of scientists reported political interference in their work, significant barriers to the free communication of scientific results, and concerns about the agency's effectiveness. The investigation combines dozens of interviews with current and former EPA staff, analysis of government documents, and survey responses from 1,586 EPA scientists. Subsequently, both the Senate and the House of Representatives held hearings to highlight the misuse of science at EPA and call for reform.
Oversight of EPA Library Closures
UCS Senior Scientist Francesca Grifo testified at a Congressional hearing on the impact of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2006 decision to close or reduce access to parts of its library network. The hearing reviewed a new Government Accountability Office report criticizing the way EPA handled the closures. Dr. Grifo discussed an independent UCS investigation showing that hundreds of EPA scientists believe the library closures impaired their work to protect our nation's health, safety, and environment.
 Scientific Freedom and the Public Good
Prominent scientists have issued a call to action urging the next president and Congress to end political interference in science and establish conditions that would allow federal science to flourish. And a new UCS report recommends steps the next president can take to restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking, highlighting recent systemic changes that make it more difficult for agencies to protect our health, safety, and environment. Nearly 15,000 scientists have called for reform since 2004.
Scientific Integrity and the Presidential Election
The 2008 presidential election offers an important forum for engaging candidates and the media on the issue of political interference in science. Check out our suggestions for how to get involved.
Engaging Students on Scientific Integrity
UCS has launched its Scientific Integrity Curriculum Guide. This comprehensive guide is designed to help undergraduate and advanced high school instructors teach this complex subject by fostering thoughtful discussions about the proper role of science in federal policy making in the classroom. The guide includes lesson slides, worksheets, homework assignments, and essay suggestions.
Scientific Integrity Update
With the recent headlines about contaminated toys, UCS policy experts worked to improve scientific integrity at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Several imperiled species are getting another chance after UCS exposed a political appointee who was distorting scientific documents, and, thanks in part to thousands of calls from UCS supporters, the EPA libraries have been given new life as well. More... | 
