NASA and the Muzzling of James Hansen: the Next Episode. (April 10, 2006)

    On 29 January, The New York Times reported complaints by James Hansen, director of US National Aeronautics and Space Agency's (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University, of harassment including how a 24-year-old politically appointed administrator with no scientific expertise had repeatedly blocked Hansen from informing the media about climate data and his analyses.

Several days after the Times' report that politically appointee got the sack, ostensibly because of having puffed his CV.

 Michael Griffin, NASA's Chief, shortly thereafter ordered an internal assessment of the agencies policies, and at then end of last month, he made public an eight-page draft of the recommendations, which Science reports says in part "scientists, 'may speak to the media and the public about their work' as long as they give officials advance notice 'whenever possible.' Previously, scientists say, the unwritten policy was that employees needed to check first with public affairs officials."

James Hansen proclaimed himself "reasonably happy" with the draft but added he's "a bit disappointed" by its ambiguity; nevertheless the new rules represent "a huge change" for the better.

US House of Representatives Science Committee Chair Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) says he is "very pleased" with the revised policy and plans to monitor its implementation.

On the other hand Thomas Devine of the Washington, D.C.-based Government Accountability Project says that no only do the rules fail to follow federal law on describing protection for whistleblowers, however, and that a vague description of what constitutes "sensitive but unclassified" data could give officials carte blanche in stifling dissent.

The internal review by Australia's CSIRO with regard to its role concerning the nation's science policy and what effect that has on public statements made by its staff is yet to be submitted.