A live webcast of a discussion on the impact of government suppression and manipulation of scientific information on public health, safety, and accountability at national, state, and local levels, entitled “Closed Doors; Open Democracies?”, will be hosted by New York University Libraries’ Business and Government Documents Center and the Coles Science Salon on Monday, March 12, from 1-2:30 p.m. The webcast will take place at NYU, 19 W. 4th Street, room 101.
The event features Ira Flatow, host and executive producer of NPR’s “Science Friday,” and two panels of experts in a national dialogue addressing issues of access to government information. The webcast is free and open to the public; for further information call Gretchen Gano at 212.998.2662.
The first panel will focus on national issues and will feature such speakers as Francesca Grifo, senior scientist and director of Scientific Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, presenting an overview on “how secrecy can make you sick”; Rick Piltz, whistleblower on the Bush administration’s manipulation of scientific reporting related to global warming; Susan Wood, former FDA official who quit over the delay of Plan B; and Jay Dyckman, director of The Knowledge Project.
Panel two focuses on state and local issues. Speakers include Dorothy Biggs, former EPA librarian; Bill Wolfe, director, NJ Chapter of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; and Mark Tapscott, editorial page editor of the Washington Examiner.
The program originates from the National Press Club in Washington D.C. and kicks off Sunshine Week 2007 (visit www.sunshineweek.org).