Prominent Univ of Alaska marine scientist loses federal grant and office - "advocate" for environmental protection in conflict with "big oil"

WASHINGTON - October 20
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/10/20-5

"NOAA's stance is that by accepting one of its grants a scientist may not say, for example, that clean water is healthier than polluted water or that action by Shell or British Petroleum may create environmental peril," said Ruch. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is preparing a formal rulemaking petition later this month for submission to NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco seeking clarification of the Sea Grant no-advocacy guidance. "Receipt of a federal grant should not be cause for suspending First Amendment free expression rights or for cancelling the moral obligation of scientists to speak up to protect our resources."

The Steiner case is being compared by faculty members to "the Firecracker Boys" episode of 50 years ago at the University of Alaska. In that case, university scientists working under federal grants were fired after the funding agency complained of their public advocacy. The scientists had publicized the likely environmental consequences of allowing the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to excavate a new harbor in Arctic Alaska using thermonuclear bombs. Thirty years later, the university recognized its error and awarded the scientists honorary doctorate degrees.