Paul Beckwith, Climate System Scientist

That’s me on the left!

‘University of Alberta scientists join call for Ottawa to stop muzzling federal researchers,

‘A group of University of Alberta scientists is joining a national call for a new direction in science policy and an end to muzzling of federal researchers.

The public can’t make informed decision on policies if they don’t have access to all the evidence, says Colleen Cassady St. Clair, a biologist who studies grizzly bears in Banff National Park. She spoke Thursday at a panel discussion on science policy.

“You can’t arrive at the right decision if you don’t know all the options ” Cassady St. Clair said in an interview. …

Public concerns about the Harper government’s muzzling of federal researchers gained momentum this week after a high-profile protest about firings and fear in the federal bureaucracy.

More than 100 former Parks Canada employees issued an unprecedented open letter condemning the abrupt firing, with no reason, of a senior scientist in Jasper National Park, the continued erosion of scientific evidence in parks policy, and the atmosphere of fear instilled across federal departments.’  Article continues at link.