Show support for government transparency and accountability in the sciences by attending a Sunshine Week 2019 event: Science and Transparency in the Trump Era. Co-sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists, Government Accountability Project, and the Sunlight Foundation, this event will include a discussion with journalists who cover issues related to transparency in the sciences and presentations of scientific integrity by civil society members. For a more detailed description of programming, see the event description below.
Transparency and access to information are essential to a functioning democracy. But science and science professionals have been under relentless assault during the Trump administration, compromising both the public’s right to know and Congress’s duty to conduct effective oversight. Censorship of research, efforts to limit the communication of federal employees and contractors and reprisal against employees who blow the whistle on serious abuses are just some of the tactics that cast a shadow on truth. This Sunshine Week event will include discussions with journalists and presentations by civil society members that explore the ongoing assaults on science and offer resources to help journalists, public interest organizations, employees, and policymakers promote accountability, protect scientific integrity, and restore public trust in government.
RSVP on eventbrite today!
Event Moderator:
Michael Halpern, Deputy Director, Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists
Featured Speakers:
Emily Holden, Environment Reporter, The Guardian
Lisa Friedman, Climate Change and Energy Reporter, The New York Times
Additional presentations by:
- Liz Borkowski, Managing Director, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University (discussing assaults on science documented in new coalition report, Protecting Science at Federal Agencies: How Congress Can Help)
- Dana Gold, Senior Counsel & Director of Education, Government Accountability Project (discussing role of science whistleblowers in promoting transparency and accountability, government efforts to chill employee speech, and sharing resources for federal employees & contractors, journalists and public interest organizations on whistleblowing)
- Rachel Bergman, Web Integrity Project Director, Sunlight Foundation (discussing information censorship & demonstrating new Website Tracker Tool used to help track shifts in public information, access to Web resources, and changes in stated policies and priorities on government websites)
Join us at this free event to network with professionals committed to scientific integrity, free speech, and government transparency. Food and refreshments provided.