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  • Outdated science hurting EPA's reputation
    June 18, 2013

    One of the things we do in the science literacy class that I teach at the community center is browse the news and evaluate the articles for thier science. The game goes that every week someone presents something they found in the news, and we discuss it. Last week, as I was setting up to teach my class, the presenting student burst in a little late, apologized, and passed me a print out. As I read a news article from Fox News, I listened to the student explain to the class what the article was all about. (This same story was published in the less politically biased Bay Journal, and they give a better overview of the story and details.) »

  • Legislation seeks to restrict EPA carbon rules
    June 17, 2013

    Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), along with seven other congressional representatives, introduced a new bill to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to regulate carbon emissions from utility power plants.   »

  • Update on NSF political science research
    June 12, 2013

    On June 7 the National Science Foundation issued a guidance memo detailing how it would implement a provision in its FY2013 appropriations bill that restricts the awarding of political science grants to those that contribute to national security or economic interests.  »

  • Will the Chemical Safety Improvement Act improve chemical safety?
    June 10, 2013

    On May 22nd, Senators Frank Launtenberg (D-NJ) and David Vitter (R-LA) announced legislation that proposes to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The Chemical Safety Improvement Act of 2013 is co-sponsored by a mix of 20 Republican and Democrat Senators. If passed, the act would “for the first time, ensure that all chemicals are screened for safety to protect public health and the environment, while also creating an environment where manufacturers can continue to innovate, grow, and create jobs.” »

  • Canada shifting funding to commercial value research
    June 4, 2013

    In May, the government of Canada and the National Research Council (NRC), which is a government sponsored agency, announced a major shift in research funding. Perhaps John McDougall, the president of the NRC, stated the premise behind this refocus best, "Innovation is not valuable unless it has commercial value". Indeed, it appears that the current Canadian government wants to focus funding on “business-driven, industry-relevant research and development."  »

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