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One scientist’s complaint of censorhip has put the spotlight on NASA.
Is NASA engaging in censorship, or just running a tight ship? That’s the question regarding allegations published in the New York Times last weekend that NASA tried to prevent one of its foremost climate researchers, James Hansen of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, from speaking to the press.
Read the full story here.
Posted by Nicola Jones on February 02, 2006
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Cronyism. It's an ugly word, but it has rather apt application to this particular era of government. When qualifications for a high profile job like head of FIMA can be as transparently missing as Michael Brown's, is it really so outre to suppose that other appointees are more positioned for stopping crimethink rather than being actually qualified?
Partisanship aside, the corruption in science position appointees, whether in the media handlers or those in charge of Shuttle inspections, bodes ill for the advancement of science. Science has depended classicly on open debate and peer review. When non-peers can dictate what is advanced when, the system has failed. It is not in trouble; it has failed utterly.
Science is not opinion; it shouldn't be spun or forced to be "on message." It should be factual, based on evidence, and conservative in conclusions from research. I dread the day I see a working group on a definition and mission statement for science and the scientific community.
Posted by: Pat Kelley | February 3, 2006 05:10 PM
NASA is one of the pioneer scientific organisation,which allows its data and scientific thoughts among the scientists of developing and underdeveloped countries. Effect of the Sunspots on the environment of the Earth is now being studied seriously.
It is possible only because NASA gives its scientists full opportunity to help the scientific communities of the world.
Posted by: Saumitra Mukherjee | February 3, 2006 06:21 PM
it sure is a delicate issue. Every institute has a right -to some extent- to put some restriction on it's employees' relationships with press. but i think in this case, NASA has come to a point where it's scientific integrity is at stake. the reason is obvious i think, being directly related to the congress and government causes politics to invade the science. yet, this situation is only the tip of the iceberg. This situation is a sign that cencorship has been infiltrated into the institution. The real problem is that censor probably already had blocked many important data and opinion to go public, and the most distasteful of all is, scientists probably started auto censoring long ago to avoid censorship.
Posted by: arin dogan | February 5, 2006 02:08 PM
George Deutsch Did Not Graduate From Texas A&M University.
He left school to work for the Bush reelection campaign, and never returned to complete his degree.
You might want to let your readers know that.
Posted by: Artie Bray | February 7, 2006 09:35 PM
Your article is full of lies! Well, at least one.
"The press officer, George Deutsch, is a political appointee and recent graduate of Texas A&M University."
http://scientificactivist.blogspot.com/2006/02/breaking-news-george-deutsch-did-not.html
Posted by: DaveHimself | February 7, 2006 10:43 PM
@DaveHimself:
What are you talking about lies? I like his article and agree in his most point of views. Maybe it's his own opinion - so you do not ought to call him a liar!
Best regards,
chris
Posted by: chris | September 14, 2007 12:23 PM
On the reference of Wikipedia George Deutsch was a press officer of NASA and worked for the Bush campaign in 2004. From my neutral view as a foreigner i can say that i fully agree to the article, even if its uncovering some ugly things you guys cant believe.
Posted by: andrew | November 16, 2007 07:36 AM