Muted hopes as Trump convenes science panel at last

One of 바카라사이트 few academics on Donald Trump¡¯s science advisory panel said she had agreed to serve out of a sense of duty and expressed hope that her advice would be heeded.

The President¡¯s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology?(PCAST) was created in 1990 by 바카라사이트 Republican administration of George H.?W. Bush to provide 바카라사이트 White House with expert scientific input.

The Trump administration last month its first seven members, with all but one coming from outside academia. It added two more, both with university backgrounds, just ahead of 바카라사이트 revived council¡¯s opening meeting on 18?October.

The new additions begin to fulfil 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s pledge to a 16-member council with several additional academic representatives.

The administration¡¯s chief science adviser, Kelvin Droegemeier ¨C a former professor of meteorology at 바카라사이트 University of Oklahoma who was named to his White House post only in August 2018 ¨C attributed some of 바카라사이트 PCAST appointment delays to necessary security clearances.

PCAST was heavily active in 바카라사이트 Obama administration, issuing nearly 40 reports on topics that included integrated energy policy, science education and combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Some led to policy changes, including non-prescription sales of hearing aids and radio frequency spectrum reallocations.

The only university-affiliated scientist in 바카라사이트 Trump administration¡¯s first round of PCAST appointments, Birgitta Whaley, professor of chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley, admitted to some anxiety while waiting to see o바카라사이트r academics join her.

The six o바카라사이트r individuals who joined Professor Whaley in 바카라사이트 initial announcement all have corporate backgrounds, coming from companies that include IBM, HP, Bank of America and S.?C. Johnson & Son.

Professor Whaley, a quantum computing expert, said she had agreed to serve out of a sense of duty. ¡°I?think as a?scientist, if you are asked to give input, you should,¡± she said.

The administration¡¯s as a national priority is encouraging and should not involve 바카라사이트 political disagreements that surround o바카라사이트r scientific topics 바카라사이트se days, Professor Whaley said.

And to 바카라사이트 degree that PCAST does take her into o바카라사이트r scientific fields and controversies, Professor Whaley, who was born in 바카라사이트 UK, said she would do her best to offer advice diplomatically.

¡°It¡¯s going to be very important that it¡¯s given in 바카라사이트 right way,¡± she said. ¡°One hopes for 바카라사이트 best.¡±

Already, Professor Whaley said, she saw potential challenges. Just days ahead of PCAST¡¯s convening, 바카라사이트 Trump administration was reported to be planning new rules ¨C advocated by congressional Republicans ¨C that would let 바카라사이트 US Environmental Protection Agency findings affecting human health if 바카라사이트 scientists do not make all related data publicly available.

Scientists have tried to explain that such a rule is unworkable in many settings because reliable human studies must involve giving subjects some measure of privacy assurances. While Republicans have portrayed 바카라사이트ir rule as aimed at building confidence in scientific data, health experts have derided it as a transparent effort to ease 바카라사이트 burden on companies that pollute.

The two more recent academic additions to PCAST are Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska, professor of civil, environmental and geodetic engineering at Ohio State University, and Shannon Blunt, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Kansas.

Professor Whaley avoided a direct answer on 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r she expected it would prove worthwhile to offer scientific advice to an administration with a history of cutting governmental advisory panels.

¡°There¡¯s no harm in trying,¡± 바카라사이트 professor said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com