Monday, December 18. 2006

USGS Tightens Oversight of Communications

AP (via Live Science) reported last week that USGS scientists must jump through more hoops to publicly share their scientific findings.

New rules require screening of all facts and interpretations by agency scientists. The rules apply to all scientific papers and other public documents, even minor reports or prepared talks, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The article suggests the goal is to reign in work that might go against administration policy. Barbara Wainman, the agency's director of communications tried to put the move in perspective.

This is not about stifling or suppressing our science, or politicizing our science in any way. I don't have approval authority. What it was designed to do is to improve our product flow.

Agency scientists are not pleased. I for one wonder if it will make it more difficult for USGS staffers to speak on topics of science or policy at events like NSGIC, where they are a great resource. And, I wonder if, as I find with other federal agencies with which I work in my consulting, it will delay any sort of reponse on queries, fact checking and reviews.

- Thanks to Don Cooke for the link.