Anti-science Friday

Physicist Robert Park had a chilling story to share in his weekly newsletter, and now I'm passing it on to you. It's no secret that the GOP is a staunch ally of the oil and energy industries. And that those industries have no interest whatsoever in environmental responsibility. So, they might not be able to discredit science or scientists, but a Texas Republican has found a novel way to do their bidding-- smother the scientists with red tape.

Disagreements between researchers are a normal part of the
scientific process.  The success and credibility of science
is anchored in the willingness of scientists to make their data
and methods available to other scientists for independent testing.
Openness is a sacred obligation.  However, three scientists, who
have had their share of such disputes, recently received letters
from Representative Joe Barton (R-TX), chairman of the House Energy
and Commerce Committee, demanding complete records, going back 10
years, of their paleoclimate work, including computer codes and a
list of all studies on which they were authors and the source of
funding – by next Monday. Their climate studies, which support
global warming, figured prominently in the 2001 report of the UN’s
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  It seems unlikely that
Rep Barton plans to repeat their studies; his record of support for
environmental legislation is 0%.  Barton is, however, among the top
recipients of campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry,
and the aggressive tone of his letters sounds to most scientists
like an effort to intimidate.