Ramblemuse Touch Points

One of the interesting things mentioned at this year’s Santa Fe Science Writing Workshop was the use of writing a book review as a venue for one’s own essay. John Horgan, who was the leader of my small group at the workshop, did this with his review of Chris Mooney’s The Republican War on Science.

The theme of political censorship of science was in the news this last week with the testimony before congress of former surgeon general Richard H. Carmona.

Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.

Back last December, the Union of Concerned Scientists reported over 10,000 scientists signing a declaration condemning political tampering with scientific reports and conclusions. This announcement was also picked-up by the BBC. John Horgan’s book review essay brings the war on science down to it’s effect on an individual scientist.