The Strange New Politics of Science

To your voice, a mysterious virtue,
to the 53 bones of one foot, the four dimensions of breathing,

to pine, redwood, sworn-fern, peppermint,
to hyacinth and bluebell lily …

A new class of medications that people are taking to control their weight could help redirect blame for obesity toward the broader food system and ineffective food policies.

Including everyone in science education not only improves the scientific enterprise, but it is essential for the democratization of personal agency in the twenty-first century.

Marcia McNutt and Michael M. Crow talk about the role of science in nation-building, why uncertainty can be as damaging as budget cuts, and how the scientific enterprise can become more efficient and effective.

A recent case in Norway demonstrates how dual-use controls can constrict international scientific collaboration without offering commensurate protections.

As grantmakers and universities strive for more engaged and societally responsive research, the proposal process could be a place for innovation—and an avenue for institutional change.

Why don’t job classification systems recognize what skills today’s occupations really require?

Showing which proposals do and don’t receive federal funding can improve research and advance open science.

Philanthropy has boosted the creativity and effectiveness of the US research system, but reaping the true benefits of these investments will require improving synergies between government and philanthropic efforts.

Scientists need to learn how information flows to congressional staffers—and the crucial role they play in setting policy.

A national network of state-based science and technology policy fellows can strengthen the exchange of information between scientists and policymakers.

Lessons from a thriving Sacramento-based program can help similar initiatives improve decisionmaking across the nation.

New research on animal intelligence is leading to a clash of worldviews that has implications for policy.

An interview with Democratic pollsters on the chicken-and-egg challenges of keeping science in neutral political territory.

The polarization of trust in science is a complex phenomenon shaped by—and increasingly also shaping—American political identities.

Lawsuits play a critical role in enforcing and upholding environmental laws. Whose concerns are prioritized? What environmental harms are litigated—and which are overlooked?