Science

New site aims to keep academics honest

Topics: 
Academia, Science
Rating: 
0

Todd Pettigrew – May 29th, 2012

A new website is meant to keep Canadian scholars honest when it comes to research. The Little Office of Research Integrity posts news related to research misconduct and calls for action when it notices what it sees as problems with intellectual integrity.

Mort Shirkhanzadeh, the site’s founder and Associate Professor in Queen’s University’s Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, says that the site came out of the “gradual and painful realization that we don’t have a system in Canada to genuinely deal with research misconduct.”

Medical research ethics exemplar Dr. Nancy Olivieri honoured

Topics: 
Dr. Nancy Olivieri, Corporate ethics, Pharmaceutical industry, Videos, Honours, Health care, Professional ethics, Science
Rating: 
4
Dr. Nancy Olivieri

On Friday 25th May, Dr. Nancy Olivieri received an honorary degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Dalhousie. This is the most recent of numerous honours and awards that Olivieri has received over the years.

The university recognized Olivieri "...for taking a courageous stand that helped bring issues of medical ethics to the forefront of our collective consciousness, and for her national and international research in blood disorders. In both of these realms, Dr. Olivieri has chosen to look beyond herself in order to advance the greater good."

Whistleblower accuses US medical firm of illegal marketing

Topics: 
Pharmaceutical industry, Conflict of interest, Science
Rating: 
2

MassDevice – May 14, 2012

An unsealed whistleblower lawsuit accuses Medtronic of violating the Medicare False Claims Act through illegal marketing of its Infuse bone growth protein, alleging that the medical device maker installed a crony as editor of an influential spine journal to push positive data on the controversial compound.

A whistleblower accused Medtronic of installing a stooge, spinal surgeon Dr. Thomas Zdeblick, as editor of an influential spine journal to push positive – and possibly premature – data on its Infuse bone growth stimulant.

Governmental Destruction of the Environment in Canada

Topics: 
Environment, Science, Message control or 'spin', Government transparency
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0

My name is Naomi. I am Canadian. I worked for Environment Canada, our federal environmental department, for several years before our current Conservative leadership (under Stephen Harper) began decimating environmentalism in Canada.

I, along with thousands and thousands of federal science employees lost any hope of future work. Their attitude towards the environment is ‘screw research that contradicts the economic growth, particularly of the oil sands’. They have openly and officially denigrated anyone that supports the environment and opposes big-money oil profit as ‘radicals’.

Media minders keep tabs on federal scientists

Topics: 
Government transparency, Environment, Message control or 'spin', Science
Rating: 
4

Margaret Munro – April 23, 2012

Government media minders are being dispatched to an international polar conference in Montreal to monitor and record what Environment Canada scientists say to reporters.

The scientists will present the latest findings on everything from seabirds to Arctic ice and Environment Canada’s media office plans to intervene when the media approaches the researchers, Postmedia News has learned.

Media instructions, which are being described as a heavy-handed attempt to muzzle and intimidate the scientists, have been sent to the Environment Canada researchers attending the International Polar Year conference that started on Sunday and runs all week.

Are Canada's federal scientists being 'muzzled'?

Topics: 
Government transparency, Message control or 'spin', Science
Rating: 
4
Kristi Miller

Janet Davison – March 27, 2012

Kristi Miller would likely be able to help Canadians who don't have degrees in biology understand her groundbreaking — and complex — research into the Pacific salmon stock, which was published more than a year ago.

But so far, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientist, who toils in a lab on Vancouver Island, has only spoken publicly at a formal inquiry into the decline of sockeye salmon in the Fraser River.

Scientists and journalists call on Harper to end gag order

Topics: 
Government transparency, Freedom of the press, Message control or 'spin', Science
Rating: 
4

Douglas Quan – February 17, 2012

Groups representing scientists and science writers sent an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday calling on his government to stop "muzzling" federal researchers.

Attendees at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual conference heard numerous examples of alleged government interference and reporters being denied timely access to scientists.

Prime Minister, please unmuzzle the scientists

Topics: 
Government transparency, Message control or 'spin', Science
Rating: 
0

CSWA National Office – February 16, 2012

From a letter submitted by the CSWA and others Feb 16, 2012 to the Prime Minister’s office…

Dear Prime Minister Harper, Over the past four years, journalists and scientists alike have exposed the disturbing practices of the Canadian government in denying journalists timely access to government scientists. Open letters to your government from concerned journalists have been followed by editorials and public lectures calling for improved access. Still, cases of government muzzling of publicly funded scientists continue.

Canadian government is 'muzzling its scientists'

Topics: 
Government transparency, Message control or 'spin', Science
Rating: 
4

Pallab Ghosh – February 17, 2012

The Canadian government has been accused of "muzzling" its scientists. Speakers at a major science meeting being held in Canada said communication of vital research on health and environment issues is being suppressed.

But one Canadian government department approached by the BBC said it held the communication of science as a priority. Prof Thomas Pedersen, a senior scientist at the University of Victoria, said he believed there was a political motive in some cases.

A Legal Defense Fund for Climate Scientists

Topics: 
Oil & gas industry, Climate change, Science
Rating: 
0

Andew C. Revkin – January 25, 2012

For years, climate scientists have been assailed from many sides — through e-mail hacking, death threats, politician’s demands for documents, Freedom of Information requests (many having the strong smell of a fishing expedition).

A Climate Science Legal Defense Fund set up last fall has taken on a formal affiliation with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an established nonprofit group offering aid and advice to government whistleblowers and scientists working on environmental issues.

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