Flying Blind: The Rise, Fall, and Possible Resurrection of Science Policy Advice in the United States

(Via Chronicle of Higher Education) The process through which Congress and the executive branch receive scientific advice to make critical decisions is in a "state of crisis" that could result in poorly designed programs and costly mistakes, according to a report released on Thursday by the Federation of American Scientists. The report, "Flying Blind: The Rise, Fall, and Possible Resurrection of Science Policy Advice in the United States," says that the federal bureaucracy has "seriously eroded" in providing technical analysis.

Among other recommendations, the report says lawmakers should:

• Establish a distinct organization within the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, to conduct detailed analysis of complex technical subjects.
• Conduct a regular, government-wide review of federal research-and-development expenditures under the direction of the Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• Create a National Science and Technology Council, managed by the president's science adviser.
• Remove government limits on unclassified scientific information and direct federal agencies to disclose records of deliberations when possible..

Posted by Tom on December 06, 2004