Learning From An Expert
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is holding their second Integrity in Science conference. The purpose of the conference is to "address the corporate and political manipulation of science and scientists to influence public opinion and public policy on health and the environment."

Advertising for the conference encourages people to "[b]ecome part of a growing movement to reassert the primacy of objectivity in science and science-based policymaking." A noble goal to be sure but not one likely to be supported by the CSPI conference.

CSPI's premise is that corporations are "politicizing" science. Completely ignored is the fact that CSPI is a highly political organization that uses and abuses science "to influence public opinion and public policy on health and the environment." Thus, CSPI engages in the behavior to which they object.

CSPI's political agenda is evident from their choice of the lead speaker announced in their conference advertising, Congressman Henry D. Waxman (D-CA). Representative Waxman, a career politician who has been in the House for almost 30 years and is well known for his sharply partisan views, will speak about "the politicization of science."

Winston is pleased that CSPI is holding a conference on a topic on which they are the reigning experts. He is also pleased to see that the conference on the politicization of science to influence public policy features Rep. Waxman, one the art's most distinguished practitioners.