“The Enlightenment Returns”, says leading journal
Overjoyed with ObamaOn March 9 US President Barack Obama offered an olive branch to scientists
promising an end to political interference. His administration would listen to
them "even when it’s inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient", he
declared. The carrot seems to have worked.
In the lead editorial in America’s top science journal, Science, titled "The
Enlightenment Returns", two leading figures called upon their colleagues to give
full cooperation to the Obama administration. "The president has taken a large
and inspiring step to restore the historically beneficial balance between
science and government; we should all now offer to help with the enlightened
effort just launched."
The authors are Kurt Gottfried, a physicist from Cornell University and
cofounder of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Nobel laureate Harold
Varmus, a former director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr Varmus was so
enthusiastic enough that he is now on the payroll of the Obama administration,
serving as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology. ~ Science, Mar 20
- Queensland legalises ‘assisted dying’ - September 19, 2021
- Is abortion a global public health emergency? - April 11, 2021
- Dutch doctors cleared to euthanise dementia patients who have advance directives - November 22, 2020
More Stories
After 49 years, SCOTUS strikes down Roe v Wade, abolishing a constitutional right to abortion
The US Supreme Court has struck down two of the most famous decisions in American history, Roe v. Wade and...
Fallen stem cell hero convicted in Swedish court
Once hailed as a stem cell technology pioneer, Italian surgeon Paolo Macchiarini has been convicted of causing bodily harm and...
Hollywood actress explains why she chose surrogacy: ‘I was terrified’
Hollywood starlet Jamie Chung, 39, surprised her fans last year when she and her husband announced the birth of twins....
First legal assisted suicide in Italy
Italy’s parliament is still debating the details of legal assisted suicide. However, last Thursday the first Italian to take advantage...
Re-examining autonomy
The buzzword cutting through the noisy controversy over the US Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade is “reproductive autonomy”....
World swimming authority takes conservative stand on gender inclusion
Swimming's world governing body, FINA, has backed a new policy on gender inclusion which will stop most trans women swimmers...