The Disregard of Science and the Responsibility of Scientists

1. The Disregard of Science and the Responsibility of Scientists Alan Kaylor Cline Department of Computer Sciences The University of Texas at Austin April 21, 2010

2. Two Stories of Carolyn • At her middle school’s Parent’s Night, her science teacher described a project where students drew pictures of the creation of the world. “Anything was OK,” she said.

3. Two Stories of Carolyn • At her middle school’s Parent’s Night, her science teacher described a project where students drew pictures of the creation of the world. “Anything was OK,” she said. • In her high school biology class, a student asked “Why do humans not have bones in their outer ears?”.

4. Two Stories of Carolyn • At her middle school’s Parent’s Night, her science teacher described a project where students drew pictures of the creation of the world. “Anything was OK,” she said. • In her high school biology class, a student asked “Why do humans not have bones in their outer ears?”. The teacher responded “I guess that’s just the way God made us.”

5. Two Stories of Carolyn • At her middle school’s Parent’s Night, her science teacher described a project where students drew pictures of the creation of the world. “Anything was OK,” she said. • In her high school biology class, a student asked “Why do humans not have bones in their outer ears?”. The teacher responded “I guess that’s just the way God made us.” The principal said “That’s an OK answer.”

6. Science is not understood. • Science is not accepted. • Science is not supported. • Science is undercut by politicians.

7. 1. Science is not understood. • Science is taught in elementary and high schools as formulas and facts – not as experimentation and inquiry. • The scientific method is one more fact to be memorized. • Even out of schools, Occam’s Razor is ignored.

8. 1. Science is not understood. • Science is taught in elementary and high schools as formulas and facts – not as experimentation and inquiry. • The scientific method is one more fact to be memorized. • Even out of schools, Occam’s Razor is ignored. Lights in the sky are UFOs.

9. Science is not understood.Some examples • Risk is inevitable part of life yet: From October to December 2001, the number of car accident deaths nationwide climbed by more than 1,000 over the same period a year earlier because fears of terrorism on airplanes had increased car travel.

10. Science is not understood.Some examples • Risk is inevitable part of life yet: The “morning after pill” Plan B was not approved by the FDA because it was claimed (by FDA administrators) the manufacturer had not proven it was safe for 16 year olds to buy over the counter.

11. Science is not understood.Some examples • Risk is inevitable part of life yet: The “morning after pill” Plan B was not approved by the FDA because it was claimed (by FDA administrators) the manufacturer had not proven it was safe for 16 year olds to buy over the counter. What was not considered was the alternative risk of pregnancy for 16 year olds.

12. 2. Science is not accepted. Consider these beliefs found by the Gallup Organization in a survey of 1003 American adults from March 6 to March 8, 2005

13. Astrology - 25% believers

14. Communication with the Dead – 21%

15. ETs visited Earth - 24%

16. Mental Telepathy – 31%

17. ESP – 41%

18. Ghosts – 32%

19. Haunted Houses – 37%

20. People are Possessed by the Devil – 42%

21. You may find those beliefs harmless (although I don’t), but how about this?

22. Gallup Polls: 1999-2004 • I'm going to read you a list of environmental problems. As I read each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. How much do you personally worry about...Damage to the earth's ozone layer?

24. That is, the worries decreased as the ozone was depleted.

25. and how about this?

26. Harris Poll: June 17-21, 2005n = 885 adults Which of the following do you believe about how human beings came to be? Human beings evolved from earlier species. Human beings were created directly by God. Human beings are so complex that they required a powerful force or intelligent being to help create them.

27. 22% 64%

28. Which as we know has led to …

29. Harris Poll: June 17-21, 2005n = 885 adults Regardless of what you may personally believe, which of these do you believe should be taught in public schools? • Evolution only, • Creationism only, • Intelligent design only, • All three.

30. 12% 23% 4% 55% 3% 3%

31. 3. Science is not supported. There’s money and there’s ideas Money: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/trres09p.pdf http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/trrdgdp09.pdf

32. Newer: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/nasa08pf1.pdf

38. http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/trdef09p.pdf

39. Department of Defense research Funding for Fiscal Year 2006 • Basic research funding (category 6.1) falls 4%. • DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) would have an overall 4.2% increase But • DARPA funding for university Information Technology research has fallen from $214M in 2001 to $123M in 2004 – a 43% loss. http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/trdodst09pa.gif

40. 3. Science is not supported. News Media: Promote the notion that truth is obtained through advocacy of two sides, Use “sound bites” that encourages simplistic reasoning, Conduct “interviews” with pre-written questions and allow non-responses to pass.

41. 3. Science is not supported. News Media: Promote the notion that truth is obtained through advocacy of two sides, Use “sound bites” that encourages simplistic reasoning, Conduct “interviews” with pre-written questions and allow non-responses to pass. None of that directly involves science but it does affect the public’s notion of expectations for rational thinking.

42. Daily Headlines: • Feds Drop Boreal Toad From Protected List • Global sea levels could rise 30 cm by 2100- study • House to Act on Endangered Species Law • Warming causes record Arctic ice melt: U.S. report • US policy hinders global space cooperation -report • Bush set to shun G8 allies on global warming • Senate Rejects Greenhouse Gas Limits • How high-pressure politics threatens action on climate • ACLU Says Bush Is Restricting Science • Experts question medical ethics at Guantanamo

43. 4. Science is undercut by politicians. “Preeminent Scientists Protest Bush Administration's Misuse of Science- Nobel Laureates, National Medal of Science Recipients, and Other Leading Researchers Call for End to Scientific Abuses” Union of Concerned Scientists February 18, 2004

44. 4. Science is undercut by politicians. “Preeminent Scientists Protest Bush Administration's Misuse of Science- Nobel Laureates, National Medal of Science Recipients, and Other Leading Researchers Call for End to Scientific Abuses” Union of Concerned Scientists February 18, 2004 They allege:

45. Agency Abuses: The Environment • Deleting Scientific Advice on Endangered Salmon: Scientists asked to remove science-based recommendations from an official report • Endangered Species: Florida Panther, Bull Trout, Trumpeter Swans: Research at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distorted and suppressed • Mountaintop Removal Mining: Administration officials intentionally disregard extensive scientific study on mountaintop removal in Appalachia   • Climate Change: Administration officials undermined science behind climate change by suppressing reports and publicly misrepresenting scientific consensus • Mercury Emissions: White House suppressed information about the impact of mercury on public health • Multiple Air Pollutants: The Environmental Protection Agency withheld an analysis showing the benefits of a bipartisan alternative to President Bush's Clear Skies Act • The Endangered Species Act: Administration officials are manipulating the scientific underpinnings of the policy making process • Forest Management: A "review team" primarily composed of non-scientists overruled a science-based plan for managing old-growth forest habitat and reducing fire risk

46. Agency Abuses: Public Health • Emergency Contraception: FDA appointees overruled staff scientists and two independent advisory panels to deny access to emergency contraception • Abstinence-only Education: The Administration has obscured scientific evaluation of abstinence-only education programs and pressured scientists to promote abstinence. • HIV/AIDS Education: The CDC was ordered to change its website to raise scientifically questionable doubt about the effectiveness of condoms in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. • Airborne Bacteria: A microbiologist was prohibited at least 11 times from publishing research on airborne bacteria originating from farm wastes. • Breast Cancer: Information suggesting a link between abortion and breast cancer was posted on a National Cancer Institute website despite objections from staff scientists.

47. Science Advisory Committees • Fogarty International Center Advisory Board: Qualified scientists, including a Nobel Laureate, were rejected after being subjected to political litmus tests. • President's Council on Bioethics: Two leading scientists were dismissed from the panel because of dissenting opinions on the ethics of biomedical research. • Arms Control Panel: A scientific committee that advised the State Department on matters of arms control was dismissed and never reappointed. • Army Science Board: An engineer was rejected from a panel because of a contribution to John McCain's 2000 presidential bid. • National Nuclear Security Administration Panel: A committee set up to advise the administration on scientific issues regarding the maintenance nation's nuclear weapons stockpile and the design and testing of new nuclear warheads was dismissed. • NIH: Drug Abuse Panel: Potential panel members were asked if they voted for President Bush. • Lead Poisoning Prevention Panel: Staff-recommended scientists are rejected from a panel considering acceptable levels of lead in drinking water and replaced by appointees with financial ties to the lead industry. • Workplace Safety Panel: Well-qualified scientists were rejected from a panel that evaluates grants for workplace injuries because of their support for a workplace ergonomics standard. • Reproductive Health Advisory Committee: An underqualified nominee was suggested as chair of an FDA committee on reproductive health despite scant credentials and highly partisan political views.

48. Is there confusion? • These are science questions: • Is this drug safe? • Is this species endangered? • Is this chemical toxic?

49. Is there confusion? • These are science questions: • Is this drug safe? • Is this species endangered? • Is this chemical toxic? • These are public policy questions: • Will the use of this drug offend a constituency? • Should we develop this land? • Should we force this plant to clean up?

50. Is there confusion? • These are science questions: • Is this drug safe? • Is this species endangered? • Is this chemical toxic? • These are public policy questions: • Will the use of this drug offend a constituency? • Should we develop this land? • Should we force this plant to clean up? Must the two be conflicted?