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Science
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> 1999
> March
> March 5, 1999:
Hour One: Scientific Secrecy
If there's something you need to know about how the government works, you can often find out. It may take a little effort, and your efforts may be restricted for various reasons, but the Freedom of Information Act says that you have a right to know an incredible amount about how the government operates. Now, some legislators are saying that that right should extend to scientific research projects that use federal funding - and some scientists aren't happy about that.
| The changes to the rules of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), originally proposed by Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) and attached to last year's omnibus appropriations bill, make the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) broader. Publicly-financed research, as well as research that forms the basis for federal policy decisions, would now be open to public scrutiny (unless it would fall under one of several exceptions to the Act, including law enforcement techniques, classified information, and medical files.) |  | The legislators say that the rule change will help make scientists more accountable, and will help refute "junk science" by making data available for future studies and attempts to duplicate the research. Some scientists, however, are worried that the rule will throw a wrench into attempts to establish patents, market their results, and maintain a lead in the very competitive scientific community.
Whose data is it, and how tightly should it be controlled? We'll talk about it, on this hour of Science Friday.
Listeners respond
Guests:
Kathy Casey
Legislative Director
Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Washington, DC
Mark Frankel
Director
Program on Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Washington, DC
Mary Ellen Sheridan
Assistant Vice President for Research
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
Secrecy In Science: A Public Colloquium
Freedom of Information Act
info from the Society of Professional Journalists
Senator Shelby
This segment produced by:
Karin Vergoth
Web producer:
Charles Bergquist
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