Science Appointment Anxieties
By Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum
People keep emailing us about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. There is a rumor swirling that he may get a high level position in the Obama administration relating to the environment, such as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. We suppose we’re getting emailed because one of us–Chris–wrote a little book called “The Republican War on Science,” and some people feel that a Kennedy appointment would signal a Democratic equivalent.
The reason is the vaccines-autism issue, where Kennedy’s views are extremely controversial, to say the least, and would certainly become more so were he to be appointed. For all the details, see the great blog Respectful Insolence.
Chris has also been on Kennedy’s radio show, Ring of Fire, several times to discuss his books, and greatly enjoyed the experience. They did not discuss vaccines and autism, where we’re both highly skeptical of Kennedy’s position.
But for now, rumors are just rumors. We’ll have more to say about a Kennedy appointment if and when it happens. We can’t seriously imagine the Obama administration would want to deal with such a distracting argument right now, however. And until this appointment is real, there’s no “Democratic War on Science” that we can see.
Meanwhile, as the rumors continue to fly, check out all the important science positions that this next administration has to fill–and fast. Those concerned about a Kennedy appointment have one thing right for certain: In filling these science-related posts, the Obama administration will most definitely set a powerful tone about how it plans to do things.
As one of the emailers and who also posted a comment on the scienceblogs blog relative to Mr. Kennedy, I am afraid that I will have to take exception with the bloggers’ attitude toward a possible appointment as EPA Administrator or other science related job. The time to stop such an appointment is now, before it is made. This is best accomplished by raising holy hell now. If the bloggers wait until the appointment is announced, it will become much harder to stop it, presuming that Mr. Mooney and Dr. Kirschenbaum, in fact, are opposed, which is not clear from the post. We have to let Senator Obama and his advisers know that the scientific community opposes such an appointment. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
It is also quite critical to note that heading an agency based on science does not mean that one has to indeed be a scientist. Rather, a manager, leader, or in the case of RFK2, a name firebrand to focus the agency on the issues. The key to success for elevating the level of science AND action in the environmental arena is the organization of individuals surrounding the leader, with both the knowledge and skill to carry through with the message and mission.
As a technical professional In public service for 20 years, I have worked for engineers and lawyers who had knowledge and technical skill, but not the leadership or organization to excel. The best managers I had were those who did not exactly know what or how I did what I did, or even agreed with my methods, but who let me do the science and trusted that the mission would succeed, and in the process would make them look like the heroes out front. I preferred to be the one ‘behind the curtain’.
Oz needs a Wizard, supported by hard working and knowledgeable Munchkins. Whether it is RFK2, or one of the other possible firebrands, EPA needs to be out front with the new administration, because changing our approach to the Environmental Issues is low hanging fruit for the new President to start the ‘Good News’ flowing, while working on the tougher ones.
Sadly, dear readers, the EPA is not a science agency. I should now, working alongside EPA staff everyday at another of our nation’s federal environmental shops. EPA is, first and foremost, an environmental law enforcement agency, and they generally rely on others for their science. Thus, EPA has far more lawyers then scientists. Yes, it bugs me too, but someone has to be the cop in the environmental world, and you don’t need an ecology Ph.D. to do that. So having a lawyer, and an environmental lawyer at that, leading an environmental law organization, strikes me as appropriate. And the incoming administration is wise to pick someone who knows this, whether MR. Kennedy or not.
Now as to Mr. Kennedy’s views on autism and vaccines – EPA has absolutely no pervue on that issue. I might suggest that, if we are going to look at his credentials for this job, we should start looking at his service as the lead prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper. His beliefs on vaccines are thus about as relevent as his views on the Jets vs. the Giants.
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