Lamar Smith: Science Peer Review Process Would Improve With Political Oversight

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/30/lamar-smith-science-peer-review_n_3189107.html

"The chairman of the House Science Committee on Tuesday defended his controversial draft legislation that would subject the National Science Foundation's peer review process to politics as necessary to "improve" science.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) floated a proposal last week that would require the U.S. agency that supports non-medical research to certify that its grants were only funding research that is groundbreaking, important, and original. Legitimate scientists said those conditions can't be guaranteed and contradict basic scientific method."

I cannot believe it. The last thing that the NSF needs is more red tape to prevent our scientists for making discoveries. I can only thing of two reason that the legislation would even be concieved of. 1) Republican are looking at any way to slash the national budget, but this would be at the expense of sicentific discovery, something that makes our society better, and can lead to a better economy with new products. 2) This is part of the anti-intellectual movement that is seeking to prevent new scientific ideas gaining ground in society.

What is with these anti-scientific, anti-intellectual members of the House Science Committee?

For those that don't know about the grant (and scholarly publishing) approval process (internationally, not just in the US), it's based on peer review, meaning other scientists review the work. This legislation would insert people into the process that have little to no understand of the work.

What is with these anti-scientific, anti-intellectual members of the House Science Committee?jimkabrhel

r.i.p. scientific developments that would threaten big oil, big energy, big pharma et al thenMrPraline

Good point.

Seriously, just when you think these back water GOP house members have herped their last derp, they go and prove us all wrong.Buckhannah

I wouldn't consider Lamar Smith backwater. He's been in Congress since 1987, and represents weathly city suburbs. He knows the business.

[QUOTE="Buckhannah"]Seriously, just when you think these back water GOP house members have herped their last derp, they go and prove us all wrong.jimkabrhel

I wouldn't consider Lamar Smith backwater. He's been in Congress since 1987, and represents weathly city suburbs. He knows the business.

[QUOTE="MrPraline"]r.i.p. scientific developments that would threaten big oil, big energy, big pharma et al thenjimkabrhel

Good point.

In other words he wants to restrict scientific research that he disagrees with or that might challenge his views. Big surprise there.chessmaster1989

Welp, looks like another country's going to have to pick up the scientific slack.

And how is this guy a chairman on a science commitee?Bane_09

And how is this guy a chairman on a science commitee?Bane_09

Because Congress tends to place members on commitees on subjects they have absolutely no understanding of.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas)

jimkabrhel

Noooooope. Just because your state is 150 years behind in science doesn't mean the rest of them should be.