UCS Roundtable Discussion in Ann Arbor

I got the following e-mail from the Union of Concerned Scientists. I will not be able to go to the meeting, but I would appreciate it if one or more bloggers in the Ann Arbor area could go and report on it:

Dear Friend, We thought you, as a UCS supporter, might be interested in attending a special roundtable discussion on the use and misuse of science by the Bush administration. The event will take place at the University of Michigan's International Institute Building, located at the corner of South University and East University in Ann Arbor at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21. The event is free and open to the public. The scientific community is uniting around a growing concern that the Bush administration has suppressed, distorted, and manipulated scientific evidence and advice across a broad range of issues--from climate change to reproductive health to childhood lead poisoning. It has become clear that significant reforms are needed to protect science from abuse and to ensure that policy decisions are made with access to the best available science. This spring, in partnership with professors, students, non-profit organizations, and scientific societies, UCS is raising awareness and activism about this important problem by supporting the organizing of scientific integrity roundtables on university campuses from coast to coast. The events will feature local and nationally known scientists discussing the current problem, its impacts, and reforms that can prevent the abuse of science by the current and future administrations. See the list of speakers for the event below. This roundtable is part of the UCS Restoring Scientific Integrity campaign. We hope you can make it. Sincerely, Nathalie Highland Stewardship Officer **************** Roundtable on Scientific Integrity in Public Policy Making Sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the University of Michigan Science, Technology, and Society Program. Date and time: March 21, 2005 (Monday), 4-6 pm Location: International Institute, 1636 SSWB (corner of South University and East University) A moderated panel of presentations and discussion about the suppression and distortion of scientific findings by high-ranking administrators in the current administration, as well as a movement to restore scientific integrity in federal policy making. We encourage students to attend. Refreshments served. Panel Moderator: Dr. Knute Nadelhoffer, Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Dr. Steve Easter, Mathew Alpern Collegiate Professor Emeritus, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Dr. Gerald Smith, Professor Emeritus, Museum of Zoology Ms. Julie Halpert, Adjunct Faculty, School of Natural Resources & Environment; environmental journalist Dr. Edward A. Parson, Professor of Law, Associate Professor of School of Natural Resources & Environment Lexi Shultz and Michael Halpern, Union of Concerned Scientists Program Introduction, Nadelhoffer Union of Concerned Scientists campaign for restoring scientific integrity, Shultz Selecting scientific advisors to federal agencies, Easter Mercury contamination and endangered-species management, Smith The role of the media, Halpert Science and policy of global warming, Parson Questions, comments, and discussion with the audience will follow each 10-minute presentation and occupy most of the second hour.