Francis Collins, former head of the Human Genome Project, endorses Obama

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 10th at 10:01 am

Francis Collins, the former Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute and lead on the Human Genome Project has just published an opinion piece in the Virginian Pilot endorsing Barack Obama. Unfortunately the Pilot does not post their guest opinion pieces on line, but a good friend in Virginia scanned a copy in for me. It is not a great quality scan, but it is good enough to read.

What is striking to me about it is not just that a rather apolitical scientist of his stature came out to endorse Obama, but that he did it in a Virginia paper with far less profile than he could have gotten. He rationalizes it by explaining that he is from Virginia, but I thought that was particularly cool. I was also struck by the fact that it is perhaps the most reasoned and dignified explanation of a political endorsement that I have ever read. He focuses on the strengths of the Obama plan for science and technology rather than beating up on McCain and Palin. Although he makes it clear that he considered both carefully.

“Sen. Obama has provided a detailed plan for his science technology and innovation agenda, which lays out how advances in science can provide solutions to many of the big problems that face us.”

He makes it clear that McCain’s plan is rather inferior.

“As I have examined the positions taken by the current Presidential candidates on these critical issues, I regret to say that I have found little comfort in Sen. John McCain’s plan.”

Add this to the 63 Nobelists who have now endorsed Obama. The McCain campaign has really missed an opportunity here and really ought to do everything they can to give more details on his plans for science. I really don’t want this to be a partisan blog, so PLEASE, anyone who knows of any serious scientists endorsing McCain, please let us know.In the mean time, check out Francis Collins OpEd HERE.

Related Stories:

Francis Collins steps down from NHGRI

Marty Chalfie endorses Obama

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7 more congressional candidates answer scientists questions!

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 10th at 8:52 am

SEA tells me that 7 more congressional candidates have answered the 7 questions on science and they have a new comparison for the Pennsylvania 5th district. If you aren’t asking your congressman where they stand on the issues, then you are part of the problem. Look up your congressman in the SHARP Network and ask them to answer the questions today.

Rep Judy Biggert (R IL 13)

Bert Copple (R MI 12)

Larry Ishmael (R WA 1)

Nerraj Nigam (I VA 10)

Eric Schansberg (L IN 9)

Steve Tataii (R HI 1)

Glenn Thompson (R PA 5)

New Comparison
Pennsylvania 5th district
Glenn Thompson (R) and Mark McCracken (D)

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Today’s Science Policy News for October, 10th 2008

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 10th at 8:30 am

A look at today’s science and health policy news:

2 Endorsements of Nuclear Power, but Sharp Differences on Details

N.Y. Times–Contrary to what Democrats may think, there is more to John McCain’s energy program than “drill, baby, drill.” And contrary to what Mr. McCain has been saying on the campaign trail, where he proposes the construction of 45 nuclear plants by 2030, Barack Obama does not “oppose the use of nuclear power.”

Law Equalizes Coverage For Mental, Physical Care

Washington Post–An estimated 113 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands in the Washington region, will receive better insurance coverage for their mental health and substance abuse problems because of landmark legislation that for the first time requires mental and physical illnesses to be treated equally.

New Cost Overrun Bedevils Planned Mission to Mars

N.Y. Times–NASA’s next big mission is ambitious, perhaps too ambitious.

Udall lists education, energy and economy as leading issues

Mountain Mall–Democrat Mark Udall, congressman and U.S. Senate candidate stopped briefly in Buena Vista Saturday to talk with patrons at Jan’s Restaurant.

Texas offers $100 million to lure bio lab

Journal Gazette–San Antonio is one of six finalist sites vying for the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a $451 million lab that will study some of the world’s most virulent diseases.

Bicycle Commuter Tax Break Is a Bittersweet Victory for Measure’s Sponsor

N.Y. Times–People who pedal to work each day have long sought a kind of commuter equality: a federal tax break for biking similar to those given for parking or riding public transit. Last week, after years of rejection, the credit suddenly became law.

Western group petitions for species protection

A.P.–A tortoise, a hare, a mouse and a half-dozen mussels are some of the creatures that a conservation group hopes to save through a “Western Ark” project aimed at petitioning the government for federal protection.

U.S. focus on climate could ease financial crisis

Reuters–If the United States focused on curbing climate change as soon as a new president took office — or sooner — it could help pull the world from the financial brink, environmental policy experts told Reuters.

Maritime Organization Seeks to Cut Air Pollution From Oceangoing Ships

N.Y. Times–The International Maritime Organization on Thursday adopted stringent new controls on airborne pollution from the world’s 300,000 oceangoing vessels.

Math Skills Suffer in U.S., Study Finds

N.Y. Times–The United States is failing to develop the math skills of both girls and boys, especially among those who could excel at the highest levels, a new study asserts, and girls who do succeed in the field are almost all immigrants or the daughters of immigrants from countries where mathematics is more highly valued.

Pint-Size Eco-Police, Making Parents Proud and Sometimes Crazy

N.Y. Times–There is a growing army of “eco-kids” — steeped in environmentalism at school, in houses of worship, through scouting and even via popular culture — who try to hold their parents accountable at home.

The future of pharma

Nature–GSK’s research leaders answer Nature’s questions about where their company — and their industry — is headed.

Indian Tribes See Profit in Harnessing the Wind for Power

N.Y. Times–The wind blows incessantly here in the high plains; screen doors do not last. Wind is to South Dakota what forests are to Maine or beaches are to Florida: a natural bounty and a valuable inheritance.

Scientists explore new source of stem cells

L.A. Times–Using the testicular cells of adult men, researchers have grown muscle, nerve and other kinds of tissue.

Cancer Vaccine Used by 25% of Girls 13 to 17

N.Y. Times–One in four teenage girls have received the relatively new vaccine against cervical cancer, federal health officials said Thursday.

Unconscious Brain Still Registers Pain

Science–A study finds that the brains of some patients with brain injuries respond to an unpleasant electrical shock much as do the brains of healthy people, suggesting that these patients may feel pain even though they’re unable to show it.

Scientists: Virginia shark’s pup a ‘virgin birth’

A.P.–Scientists have confirmed the second case of a “virgin birth” in a shark.

Tropical species also threatened by climate change

A.P.–If you can’t stand global warming, get out of the tropics. While the most significant harm from climate change so far has been in the polar regions, tropical plants and animals may face an even greater threat, say scientists who studied conditions in Costa Rica.

AP IMPACT: GPS could save airlines time and fuel

A.P.–A World War II-era air traffic network that often forces planes to take longer, zigzagging routes is costing U.S. airlines billions of dollars in wasted fuel while an upgrade to a satellite-based system has languished in the planning stages for more than a decade.

Indonesian Officials Unveil a Deal to Protect Forests

N.Y. Times–All 10 provincial governors of the island of Sumatra agreed to a deal to protect endangered forests, a move that could help control planet-warming emissions, Indonesian authorities said Thursday at a global conservation conference here.

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Today’s Science Policy News for October, 9th 2008

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 9th at 7:35 am

A look at today’s science and health policy news:

A state-by-state look at biomedical issues

Nature–As John McCain and Barack Obama go head-to-head on the main playing field, it’s easy to overlook the smaller battles happening on the sidelines. But congressional races, ballot proposals and gubernatorial face-offs are stirring debate across the country.

Court Weighs Concerns on Whales and Military

NY Times–The Supreme Court considered a decision by the Nine Circuit Court to impose limits on Navy exercises, Wednesday.

Bush signs bill to clean waters that feed into Lakes

The Detroit News–President Bush signed legislation Wednesday reauthorizing a federal program to clean up toxic contaminants from rivers and harbors that feed into the Great Lakes. Although advocates were pleased, the bill reauthorized the program for only two years at $54 million annually, which keeps it essentially at the same funding level.

Candidates’ Math-Science Ideas Face Limits

Education Week–John McCain and Barack Obama have voiced concerns about U.S. students’ middling performance in mathematics and science, echoing the views of many business executives and scientists. But fiscal realities may limit what they could do to address the issue as president.

EPA likely to see changes under next administration

National Journal–Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama promises to create a more independent Environmental Protection Agency and to “reinvigorate the EPA, respecting its professionalism and scientific integrity.” By contrast, John McCain has said relatively little about the role that EPA would play in his administration.

Neugebauer: U.S. needs comprehensive energy policy

Abilene Reporter-News–The United States must find a way to purchase enough energy to run the country in the future without leaving a legacy of debt for future generations, U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer said at an automotive roundtable.

High Rate of H-1B Visa Fraud

BusinessWeek–A report released Oct. 8 by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) reveals that 13% of petitions filed for H-1B visas on behalf of employers are fraudulent. Another 8% contain some sort of technical violations.

Scientist warns cash woes ‘devastating’ to science

AP–Famed scientist Richard Leakey warned that the worldwide credit crisis will be “just devastating” to scientific research in coming years, as endowment interest income drops and companies cut donations.

Bailout Bill Is Rife With Tasty Green Pork

Wired–Clean technology companies of all sorts are cheering the green pork that legislators added to the $700-billion Wall Street bailout bill that passed Congress last week. Extensions to tax credits for wind and solar power producers finally got their long-awaited passage, but a slate of more obscure provisions could help drive interest and capital in new types of green businesses.

That’s a Pretty Big Glitch

NY Times (Opinion)–Election officials, who will have plenty on their minds on Nov. 4, have one more thing to worry about: Diebold electronic voting machines that drop votes. Ohio’s secretary of state raised the alarm after local officials reported problems with the March primary count. Diebold has since notified more than 30 states to be on the lookout for missing votes.

NOAA, Court Focus On Marine Mammals

Washington Post–The government yesterday issued a long-delayed regulation imposing speed limits on East Coast ship traffic that threatens the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, while barely a mile away the Supreme Court wrestled with a dispute between the Navy and environmentalists over the impact of sonar exercises on whales and other marine mammals.

Focus sharpens on forests for climate fix

Reuters–Payments from polluters in rich countries to tropical communities in exchange for slowing deforestation may soon play a bigger role in combating climate change if problems like measuring preservation efforts can be overcome.

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2008 Chemistry Nobelist Endorses Obama bringing the number to 63!

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 8th at 11:51 am

One of the first things Martin Chalfie wanted to do after learning that he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry is endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States. That brings the total number of Nobel Prize winners in science endorsing Obama to 63. Originally 61 winners came out and endorsed Obama, but soon after the release of the letter, Murray Gell-Mann, who won the Prize in Physics in 1969 came forward to add his name.

Chalfie won the prize for his early work on using green fluorescent protein to mark cells. This is by far the largest number of Nobelists to ever endorse a candidate for President. I do not know of any Nobelists in science that have endorsed McCain, so if anyone hears of one, please let me know.

I wonder whether this years other recipients Roger Tsien of UCSD and Osamu Shimomura of Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory will also come out to endorse Senator Obama for President. You can read the updated Nobel endorsement letter HERE.

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Today’s Science Policy News for October, 8th 2008

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 8th at 11:33 am

A look at today’s science and health policy news:

McCain, Obama Compete to Revamp U.S. Health Insurance System

Bloomberg–John McCain and Barack Obama clashed in their second debate over who would do more to provide affordable health care, with each accusing the other of hiding the real costs of his plan.

What if I get sick and need insurance? The candidates’ proposals

Chicago Tribune–How would the presidential candidates’ health reform plans help me?

Dingell, Boucher call for steep greenhouse gas cuts

The Hill–House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell and Energy and Air Quality subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher released a 461-page bill that seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 80 percent over the next four decades.

Fuming over formaldehyde

L.A. Times–The CDC demoted a ‘whistle-blower’ who warned of contaminant in hurricane victims’ trailers, a report says.

GAO opens probe into gas, oil drilling in Utah

A.P.–Congressional investigators are looking at a federal government agency’s quick approvals for oil and gas drilling in Utah, a development applauded by environmental groups but condemned by industry executives as political posturing.

N.J. vows to ‘race to the sea’ for wind power

MSNBC.com–New Jersey is powering up an ambitious plan to become a world leader in the use of wind-generated energy.

‘Rethinking Student Aid’ Study Group Holds Policy Meeting on Capitol Hill

Chronicle of Higher Education–When the Rethinking Student Aid study group released its report a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like a great time to draw national attention to the independent group’s proposals to streamline and improve the federal student-aid system.

Study of Data Mining for Terrorists Is Urged

N.Y. Times–A federal panel of policy makers and scientific experts urged a government-wide evaluation Tuesday of programs that sift through databases looking for clues on terrorism, to determine whether the programs are effective and legal.

University: Stem-cell study used falsified data

A.P.–The University of Minnesota has concluded that falsified data were used in a 2001 article published by one of its researchers on adult stem cells. The school is asking that the article be retracted.

We’re as good as we can get, says evolution expert

The Guardian–Humans have reached a genetic utopia – believe it or not – due to high life expectancy and racial mixing.

Campaign Myth: Prevention as Cure-All

N.Y. Times (Essay)–In a presidential campaign that promises straight talk and no gimmicks, why do both candidates champion one of medical care’s most pervasive myths?

1 Japanese, 2 Americans win Nobel chemistry prize

A.P.–Two Americans and a U.S.-based Japanese scientist won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for discovering and developing a glowing jellyfish protein that revolutionized the ability to study disease and normal development in living organisms.

Nanotech comes alive

Nature–Viruses and bacteria act as factories for nanostructures.

Speed-Walking Across Asia

Science–How quickly did our human ancestors reach China after leaving Africa? Now, thanks to advanced dating techniques, scientists may finally have the answer.

Don’t Blame Biofuels for Food Crisis

Wired–Biofuels have contributed far less to rising food prices than previously estimated, a new United Nations report’s data suggests.

U.N. Says Biofuel Subsidies Raise Food Bill and Hunger

N.Y. Times–A United Nations food agency called on Tuesday for a review of biofuel subsidies and policies, noting that they had contributed significantly to rising food prices and the hunger in poor countries.

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Dems Distort Stem Cell Policy for Electoral Gain (Again)

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 8th at 11:11 am

By Matt Nisbet at A Vote For Science

Democrats are far from innocent when it comes to twisting the reality of science policy for political gain. For example, back in 2004, when the Kerry/Edwards campaign tried to use stem cell research as a wedge issue against Republicans, Edwards infamously went well beyond the uncertainty of stem cell research and the realistic timeline for therapies when he said on the campaign trail: “”If we do the work that we can do in this country, the work that we will do when John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve will get up out of that wheelchair and walk again.”

And now in 2008, distortions on stem cell research enter again as a Democratic strategy. As Fact Check.org at the University of Pennsylvania reports (listen to ad and read full analysis):

An Obama-Biden radio ad hammers McCain for being opposed to stem cell research. Not true. Meanwhile two spots from the McCain-Palin campaign, together with the Republican National Committee, describe McCain’s support for the research; they’re largely accurate.By saying that “John McCain has stood in the way - he’s opposed stem cell research,” the Obama ad seriously misstates the view that McCain has held on this issue since 2001, when he began backing embryonic stem cell research, a position that was out of step with that of many of his fellow Republicans.

The McCain/RNC ads would probably lead listeners to believe that Palin shares McCain’s views on this topic. That’s not true. But we find that to be a minor flaw compared with the misrepresentation in Obama’s ad.

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Today’s Science Policy News for October, 7th 2008

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 7th at 8:02 am

A look at today’s science and health policy news:

25% of Wild Mammal Species Face Extinction

Washington Post–At least a quarter of the world’s wild mammal species are at risk of extinction, according to a comprehensive global survey released here Monday.

Business Cool Towards McCain’s Health Coverage Plan

NY Times–American business, typically a reliable Republican cheerleader, is decidedly lukewarm about Senator John McCain’s proposal to overhaul the health care system by revamping the tax treatment of health benefits, officials with leading trade groups say.

Energy Lessons From the ’70s

NY Times–The presidential candidates claim to see America’s energy future, but their competing visions have a certain vintage quality. They’ve revived that classic debate: the hard path versus the soft path.

EPA proposal won’t regulate perchlorate in drinking water

The Sun–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced it does not intend to set a national drinking-water standard for perchlorate, a common contaminant in Southern California drinking water.

West putting climate treaty in jeopardy, China warns

New Scientist–Negotiations seeking a global pack to tackle global warming are troubled and could end in disastrous failure, China’s top climate change envoy warns, saying rich countries are failing to deliver on promises.

Deal to require U.S. to designate polar bear habitat

LA Times–Under an agreement reached with 3 conservation groups that could restrict drilling off Alaska’s coast, the Interior Department has until 2010 to designate critical habitat for the threatened species.

Future of Giant Turtle Still Uncertain

NY Times–Scientists trying to save one of the world’s most endangered species of freshwater turtles say waiting is their only recourse after a complicated attempt to mate two elderly turtles during this year’s breeding season ended without producing any offspring.

Coal and votes

LA Times (Opinion)–Obama and McCain’s embrace of coal is mostly about pandering to swing-state voters.

Decision on accepting Italy’s nuclear waste delayed

The Tennessean–The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Monday that it will delay a decision on whether to allow 20,000 tons of low-level nuclear waste from Italy to be shipped to Tennessee until a court case pertaining to the controversy is resolved.

Studies Lift Hopes for Great Lakes Wind Turbine Farms

Washington Post–Picture 100,000 wind turbines rising from the Great Lakes off Michigan’s shores, casting spinning shadows on the water and producing electricity for the entire Upper Midwest.

Cut the Sprawl, Cut the Warming

NY Times (Opinion)–For years, while Washington slept, most of the serious work on climate change has occurred in the states, and no state has worked harder than California. The latest example of California’s originality is a new law — the nation’s first — intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by curbing urban sprawl and cutting back the time people have to spend in their automobiles.

1 American, 2 Japanese Share Nobel Physics Prize

NY Times–An American and two Japanese physicists on Tuesday won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work exploring the hidden symmetries between elementary particles that are the deepest constituents of nature.

Why Clean Tech Is Taking Biotech’s Shine

BusinessWeek–It’s simple: Alternative energy is where the venture capital is these days. Plus, the skill sets are similar, and researchers are making the jump

The Carbon Conundrum

Forbes–CO2 capture and sequestration could help save the world, if anyone’s got the stomach to risk it.

EU vote backs increase in domestic climate action

Reuters–European Union lawmakers backed more domestic action to fight climate change, cutting import limits on carbon offsets from developing countries through 2020, in a vote on Tuesday which will carry into EU negotiations.

Cities aren’t the only culprits in climate change

New Scientist–CITIES are shouldering too much of the blame for heating up the planet, while the effects of deforestation, agriculture and wasteful lifestyles are not getting the attention they deserve.

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Schwarzenegger signs Researcher Protection Act of 2008

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 6th at 6:31 pm

By Janet Stemwedel at Adventures in Ethics and Science

The past couple years in California have been scary ones for academic researchers who conduct research with animals (as well as for their neighbors), what with firebombs, home invasions, significant intentional damage to their properties and threats to their safety.

In response to a ratcheting up of attacks from animals rights groups, universities have lobbied for the Researcher Protection Act of 2008, which Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law on September 28.

(more…)

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Would McCain ban IVF?

Posted by Michael Stebbins on October 6th at 12:16 pm

At the 18 September head-to-head between health advisors from the McCain and Obama campaign that Scientists and Engineers for America hosted at George Washington University, a question on in vitro fertilization completely stumped McCain health advisor Jay Khosla. The Obama campaign surrogate, Dora Hughes, MPH, MD answered it without hesitation.

Frankly, the inability to answer this simple question on a widely used assisted reproductive technology or clarify whether McCain will once and for all lift Bush’s ban on use of federal funds for human embryonic stem cell research is deeply disturbing. Is it pandering to the religious right, an innocent flub or an indication of intentions to tighten restrictions on assisted reproductive technologies? This is hardly “gotcha journalism.” The inability to answer is scary.

The moderator, Julie Rovner from NPR, was taking questions from the audience and by email, here is the IVF question…

“Senator McCain has stated that human life begins at the moment of conception. This would have many implications for scientific research and health policy. Would Senator McCain ban in vitro fertilization, a procedure where most fertilized eggs are destroyed; and if not, why not?

The question itself hinges upon the definition of “conception,” there are two. Generally, the religious right defines conception as fertilization of an embryo (regardless of the means of delivery). The medical definition requires implantation of the embryo. The easy answer would have been “Of course not. Senator McCain has no intention of banning IVF. That’s preposterous” Mr. Khosla said he would be willing to answer this question off line. I wonder what his answer would be with the cameras off. Watch the whole forum here.

Filed under Healthcare, Presidential Candidate, SEA Event, stem cells

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