Sound science

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This article is about the political term. For the branch of physics, see acoustics.

The term "sound science" has been used in public policy discussions, usually in contrast to "junk science". Typically an advocate will use sound science to describe his side and junk science to describe his opponent's side. These terms have been promoted by Steven Milloy and the Advancement of Sound Science Center. According to epidemiologist David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environment, Safety, and Health in the Clinton Administration, the tobacco industry invented the sound science movement in the 1980s as part of their campaign against the regulation of secondhand smoke.^[1]

The argument of a "lack of sound science" is often used to discredit concerns of activists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in fields such as public health, consumer rights, public safety, and environmental risks.

The phrase is often used by corporate business, industry public relations, national and international government agencies, and environmental groups to describe the scientific research that is used to justify their political claims or positions.

"Sound science", however, has no specific scientific definition itself, so the phrase is used subjectively.

1 Criticism
2 Notes
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Criticism

Ong and Glantz writing in the American Journal of Public Health state^[2]

Public health professionals need to be aware that the "sound science" movement is not an indigenous effort from within the profession to improve the quality of scientific discourse, but reflects sophisticated public relations campaigns controlled by industry executives and lawyers whose aim is to manipulate the standards of scientific proof to serve the corporate interests of their clients.

[edit] Notes

^ Michaels, David (2008). Doubt is their product: How Industry's Assault on Science Threatens Your Health. New York: Oxford University Press, 3. ISBN 978-0-19-530067-3.
^ Constructing "Sound Science" and "Good Epidemiology": Tobacco, Lawyers, and Public Relations Firms – Ong and Glantz 91 (11): 1749 – American Journal of Public Health. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Martin Kady II, Mary Clare Jalonick and Amol Sharma, "Dueling Science: Science, Policy Mix Uneasily In Legistlative Laboratory," Congressional Quarterly Weekly, March 20, 2004, page 680.