[Gumlegs]

To be precise I did characterize Fumento as a "science writer," not a scientist.

I suspect few scientists have the gift for either relating easily to reporters or for story-telling (which is the nature of mass communication), themsleves. Properly expressed, science has so many qualifiers (the dreaded "If," "Perhaps," and "Maybe" Syndrome), that the wonder isn't that science is badly reported, the wonder is that it gets into the media at all. They may also consider "public relations" as a distraction from their real work. In this day of politicized science that may be the wrong attitude, but there it is. Someone like Carl Sagan steps forward and is attacked by both sides.

[Proud_texan]

You're absolutely right and indeed I did unintentionally put words in your mouth by being imprecise. My apologies, I was too focused on the idea of hearing from the "community" members themselves, perhaps like the open letter signed by the bunch of scientists telling Bush to sign Kyoto or not go to Iraq.

Perhaps an open letter decrying falsifying results or calling for a standard of ethics, the violation of which would be cause for loss of tenure, employment, etc. I ain't holding my breath.

Thanks also for the reminder of Fumento, really enjoyed his web site and was surprised to find he's also trained in law. I was also surprised to see how widely he is published. I had recalled reading him in AS as noted and on reflection in National Review, but he enjoys much wider distribution than that and that's a good thing.