(Hat tip to Michael Stebbins) “Scientists and Engineers for America has posted a revised Bill of Rights for Scientists that sets out basic principles that all elected officials should support. Effective government depends on accurate, honest, and timely advice from scientists and engineers. But the ability of scientists to present the best evidence and analysis possible has been eroded over time through political interference and intimidation. We should all call on our elected representatives to support these basic principles to protect the rights of scientists and engineers and science integrity within government.” If you are a US Citizen you can find your representative and ask them if they support the Bill of Rights for Scientists on SEA’s SHARP Network.
Bill of Rights for Scientists and Engineers
1. Public policy shall be made using the best available scientific, technical, and engineering knowledge.
2. No government organization shall knowingly distribute false or misleading information.
3. Government funding for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education shall only be used for evidence-based curricula.
4. No one should fear reprisals or intimidation because of the results of his or her research.
5. Scientists, technologists, and engineers conducting research or analysis with public funding shall be free of unreasonable restrictions in discussing and publishing their work, and the results of governmentally-funded research and analysis shall be made open to the public without unreasonable delay.
6. A clear, public, and transparent process shall be used to make decisions about restricting public access to information for reasons of national security. There shall be a process for challenging decisions, and remedial measures to correct mistakes and abuses of the classification system.
7. Employees exposing what they believe to be manipulation of research and analysis for political or ideological reasons shall be protected from intimidation, retribution, or adverse personnel action resulting from the decision to speak out.
8. Appointments to publicly funded advisory committees shall be based on professional and academic qualifications, not political affiliation or ideology.
Link
IEET Blog