How political is the science of conservation?

Gretchen Goldman, lead analyst, Center for Science and Democracy, lead author of the report

Progress and Problems: Government Scientists Report on Scientific Integrity at Four Agencies,

said that the survey asked scientists about scientific integrity, communications, and agency effectiveness. The results will have you checking the calendar to see if this is 2015 or 2006, when the Union of Concerned Scientists raised the alarm about political interference by Bush administration officials and the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior charged one high-level official with misconduct.

A significant number of scientists are still unaware that their agency has a scientific integrity policy, despite the policies being in place for three years. Of those that were aware, some respondents didn’t think their agency adhered to the policy.