And the fan club lives on - July 24, 2008
Washington is full of science-policy wonks who bemoan the loss of the Office of Technology Assessment, which between 1972 and 1995 was the go-to place for smart independent advice for policymakers on science and technology topics. Fortunately, OTA junkies now have an online fix for all their needs.
The Federation of American Scientists has launched a new site organizing all 720 reports put out by the OTA during its lifetime (which ended when Congressional Republicans took it out following the 1994 elections). Most of this material has been online before, at Princeton University’s OTA archive, but they are more searchable and better organized at the FAS page. The new site is also promising a future ‘Document of the Day’ feature, highlighting material not previously available to the public.
Rush Holt, the New Jersey Congressman who has been spearheading a recent drive to reinstate the OTA, is featured in a video clip. And really, what screams YouTube more than a Washington politician talking about an advisory office that closed more than a decade ago?
Seriously, it can be fun to root around in these documents, learning about everything from osteoporosis to how to dispose of chemical weapons. The site has gotten just a bit of play so far in the blogosphere, primarily from my new personal favorite The Science Cheerleader (Rooting 4 Teamwork in Science!) who has a Science Progress piece here.
Image: GPO
Comments
Here is my message just sent to Dr Rush: I am going to send the following message to www.nature.com, The Great Beyond:
As regards the war against OSTEOPOROSIS as well as all other common and severe disorders, today's epidaemics, including CANCER, I'dd like to sy Dott. Rush that visiting my website www.semeioticabiofisica.it it could be possible to prevent the majority of all cases when politicians and physicians will decide to admitt the existence of Biophysical-Semeiotic Constitutions and related inherited Real Risks, bedside recognized since birth with a simple stethoscope in a quantitative way (ibidem, and www.nature.com, URLs http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2007/09/acupuncture_better_than_medici_1.html#comments
http://blogs.nature.com/wp/nascent/2008/07/plos_one_take_two.html#comments
http://blogs.nature.com/nm/spoonful/2008/06/menu_labeling_preaching_to_the.html#comments
http://network.nature.com/blogs/user/UE19877E8/2008/02/14/in-which-i-get-roped-in-open-lab-2008
http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/02/confusion_after_diabetes_study.html#comments
http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/02/confusion_after_diabetes_study.html#comments
http://blogs.nature.com/nm/spoonful/2008/03/gout_gene.html
http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/07/hey_pharma_leave_those_kids_al.html#comments
In performing this epochal, no expensive, primary prevention on very large scale in individuals "rationally selected" is unavoidable the GOOD WILL of all of us: politicians, NHS Authorithies, Physicians, Drugs Producers...a.s.o.
Impossible Mission? NO!, I think.
Posted by: Sergio Stagnaro MD | July 25, 2008 07:25 AM
Thanks, Alex! Glad you like the sciencecheerleader.com effort. There's a fun (I'd go so far as to say funny) short video up there now...a spoof on the science debate. Even a cameo by Marv Alberts. Cheers!
Posted by: Darlene Cavalier | August 13, 2008 02:44 PM