government scientists


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Five Things We’ve Learned from Surveys of Government Scientists

, Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy

March 6, 2018 4:42 PM EDT

This month the Union of Concerned Scientists is surveying government scientists—about 63,000 of them from 16 federal agencies, to be exact. Since these scientists get emails from me requesting their time and perspectives, I want to discuss the value of the scientific integrity surveys we’ve been conducting here for many years. Since 2005, thousands of scientists have responded to UCS surveys and that information has led to concrete changes at federal agencies. Here’s a sampling of what we’ve gained from surveying government scientists. Read more >

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No Shutdown For Now, But What Effect Does Budget Uncertainty Have On Government Scientists?

, Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy

October 6, 2015 1:51 PM EDT

Two years ago this week, Washington, DC was a ghost town.  With federal employees furloughed and millions of workdays disrupted, the streets were eerily quiet and Americans were deprived of the Panda Cam.  But there were bigger consequences. Read more >

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Survey Says: New Report Shows Scientific Integrity at Federal Agencies Needs Improvement

, Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy

October 1, 2015 10:20 AM EDT

Do you feel like your scientific work is too politicized?  If you are a scientist working for the federal government, the answer might be yes. Thousands of scientists report that political considerations are given too much weight at their federal agency. Read more >

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Communicating Science: Barriers Journalists Face at Government Agencies

, former analyst, Center for Science & Democracy

August 4, 2015 12:55 PM EDT

Transparency invigorates a strong democracy. It inspires trust and spurs citizens to hold their leaders accountable. As citizens, we have the right to know about the scientific information shaping the policies that affect our health, our safety, and the environment, and our government has a responsibility to share this information openly. Read more >

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Combatting Panic: Ebola, the CDC, and Crisis Communication

, , Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy

October 1, 2014 10:25 AM EDT

Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States. Almost on cue, panic and overreaction were rampant, most notably on social media. Read more >

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