George C. Marshall Institute, Hoover Institution Release 'Politicizing Science: The Alchemy of Policymaking' 7/23/2003
From: The George C. Marshall Institute, 202-296-9655 News Advisory: -- Discussion of new George C. Marshall Institute -- Hoover Institution book, "Politicizing Science: The Alchemy of Policymaking" WHO: Authors Michael Gough, ed., Adjunct Scholar, CATO Institute; Roger Bate, director, International Policy Network; Henry Miller, research fellow, the Hoover Institution WHEN AND WHERE: -- Thursday, July 24 at noon -- The National Press Club, Lisagor Room; 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20045 -- Reservations required; Lunch provided Most Americans agree that religion and politics don't mix, but should there also be a wall of separation between politics and science? In the new book POLITICIZING SCIENCE: The Alchemy of Policymaking, eleven distinguished scientists discuss the harmful and sometimes disastrous results of the political manipulation of science. Governments around the world are increasingly using health, safety, and environmental research in advancing political agendas. Politics, the authors show, influences what science is pursued, discouraged or ignored. Political considerations also play a role -- sometimes major -- in how research results are evaluated. The authors of POLITICIZING SCIENCE illustrate how politicians -- both elected and appointed -- favor science and scientists that advance their agendas and discourage scientific experimentation and results that do not. Agenda-driven health and environmental regulations divert research funds from areas of science that could provide wide public benefit. Sometimes, the results are disastrous. Politically motivated science played a major role in banning the pesticide DDT, which led to a resurgence of malaria that has claimed thousands of victims in poor countries. The hottest of hot-button topics is global warming, and authors of two chapters analyze politically motivated "consensuses" about interpretation of measurements and choice of predictive models and harassment and punishment of scientists who don't join the "consensus." Other authors analyze the politics of science about biotech, wildlife research, nuclear power, and Agent Orange. POLITICIZING SCIENCE is an informative, timely, profound, and often disturbing look at the consequences of too much politics and too little science. It will reward the reader with an appreciation for the interplay between politics and science. Reservations: call 202-296-9655 or e-mail info@marshall.org |