Harpy

Interesting story in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/featu...933055,00.html


A couple of names I hadn't heard of before.

I also just heard on the radio that the EU has voted to ban research on stem cells, looks like the American disease is spreading.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2932421.stm


David Bowe, Labour's environment spokesman in the European Parliament, criticised the result. "I am quite annoyed about it. It is wrong for the religious right to assert its own moral view on the rest of us "There is no moral consensus in Europe on this and it really should be left up to individual member states to decide."

Right on Dave

RoddyM

Creationists, pro-lifers and conservatives have always posed a serious threat to research and science teaching in the US at least longer than the lifetimes of the supposedly intelligent and free thinking people on this board.

"Scientific" research, publication and teaching has been biased by the power and wishes of those pandering to the moral majority in the US. People who regard themselves as atheist freethinkers in the US seldom realise the limitations within which they are permitted to think.

beoba

Limitations such as?

Jesse

I would argue that the belief that "Scientific" research, publication and teaching has been biased by the power and wishes of ____ is one of the most consistent beliefs of those who try to undermine science, whether they're creationists, relativity deniers, HIV/AIDS deniers, or what have you. If you think there's something wrong with an area of science, make your case based on the evidence, not innuendo and conspiracy theories.

On the other hand, I agree that politics plays a major role in scientific funding and in other areas where the government, or sometimes corporations, are involved with science. In the long run I think science tends to "adapt" to obstacles to progress in any area, but in the shorter-term it is something to worry about.