There are some things that are common sense.
Striving for Gold Standard Science – that all science should be reproducible, open and transparent, free from conflicts of interest, and collaborative – is among them. As OSTP Director Michael Kratsios wrote in an op-ed today, “Science and politics need not be in conflict. Ensuring that the science used in decisions conforms to the highest standards of research integrity makes these judgments themselves transparent and scientific.”
Yet some within the science community put partisanship before professionalism when it comes to the commonsense principles of Gold Standard Science – for no reason other than politics.
As Science journals Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp put it in a piece today: “it is possible to support science and hold it accountable at the same time.”
“..The defensiveness of investigators and institutions in responding to problems severely heightens the suspicion. Rather than filing lawsuits and hiding behind carefully crafted statements, the scientific community should be engaging in a conversation about problems and potential solutions.”
This is exactly why President Trump signed his Restoring Gold Standard Science executive order. President Trump wants America to return to the standard of excellence our scientific community is historically known for.
The simple truth is that there is a disconnect between the American people and the scientific enterprise. It’s a relationship that needs to be rebuilt.
Now is the time to work with the Administration towards a solution.
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