Obama strengthens the role of science in policy

The twin announcements marked a clear departure from former President George W. Bush’s approach to science, which had caused a rift between that administration and a large segment of the nation’s research community. Many complained that scientific data had been ignored or skewed as the Bush administration set policy on climate change, oil and gas drilling, and other aspects of environmental and health policy. According to Stephanie Condon at CNet news , it also “reopens the debate over how well science and politics should mix”

Richard Jones of the American Institute of Physics says Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, who was at the President’s side as the Memorandum was signed, released a statement that in part said, “President Obama also made clear today that his commitment to decisions based on science instead of ideology extends beyond stem cell research -- tasking every agency to ensure that sound science is at the heart of decisions we make. From energy to environmental protection to health care reform, Americans will be well served by this approach.”