Sense About Science - Revision history

Melissa Jones: /* "Keep libel laws out of science" campaign */

2015-08-19T06:32:52Z

"Keep libel laws out of science" campaign

Melissa Jones at 04:25, 19 August 2015

2015-08-19T04:25:44Z

David: /* Contact */

2015-06-15T13:29:02Z

Contact

Owen Cranshaw at 17:53, 30 April 2015

2015-04-30T17:53:43Z

Owen Cranshaw: /* More about SAS's GM guide */

2015-04-30T17:27:47Z

More about SAS's GM guide

Owen Cranshaw at 18:05, 28 April 2015

2015-04-28T18:05:41Z

Show changes

Owen Cranshaw at 11:31, 28 April 2015

2015-04-28T11:31:47Z

Owen Cranshaw at 18:47, 13 April 2015

2015-04-13T18:47:43Z

Claire Robinson: /* "Keep libel laws out of science" campaign */ - clarifying context

2014-11-13T11:32:55Z

"Keep libel laws out of science" campaign: - clarifying context

Lucy Brown: /* Attacking homeopathy */

2013-09-04T10:54:35Z

Attacking homeopathy

@@ Line 249: / Line 249: @@
 =="Keep libel laws out of science" campaign==
-SAS has run a high-profile campaign against libel laws in science (Keep Libel Laws out of Science<ref>[http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/333/ National Petition for Libel Law Reform], SAS website, accessed 16 Feb 2010</ref>) in relation to the case of the science writer Simon Singh being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association for an article in the Guardian in which he claimed the BCA promoted "bogus" treatments.<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227083.000-chiropractic-critic-loses-first-round-in-libel-fight.html Chiropractic critic loses first round in libel fight], New Scientist, Issue 2708, 15 May 2009, accessed 19 Feb 2010</ref>
+SAS has run a high profile campaign against libel laws in science (Keep Libel Laws out of Science<ref>[http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/333/ National Petition for Libel Law Reform], SAS website, accessed 16 Feb 2010</ref>) in relation to the case of the science writer [[Simon Singh]] being sued for libel by the [[British Chiropractic Association]] for an article in the ''Guardian'' in which he claimed the BCA promoted "bogus" treatments.<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227083.000-chiropractic-critic-loses-first-round-in-libel-fight.html Chiropractic critic loses first round in libel fight], New Scientist, Issue 2708, 15 May 2009, accessed 19 Feb 2010</ref>
-While SAS devotes a substantial section of its website to supporting Singh's cause, however, it nowhere (as at February 2010) mentions the libel case that [[GE Healthcare]] launched against the radiologist Henrik Thomsen. [[Henrik Thomsen]] had claimed the company's contrast agent [[Omniscan]] which is used in MRI scans caused a 'potentially fatal condition in some patients with kidney problems'. According to Thomsen, 30 patients at Copenhagen University Hospital had developed nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF).<ref>Booth, R. ''The Guardian.'' 20 December 2009. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/dec/20/scientist-libel-law-henrik-thomsen UK libel law has gagged me, says leading Danish radiologist] Accessed 18 February 2010.</ref> Thomsen counter-sued the company for defamation after it called him a liar in a press release. In the financial year 2007-8 GE Healthcare was a funder of Sense About Science<ref>Sense About Science Financial Statement Year Ended 5 April 2008, available [http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Image:Sas2008.pdf here]</ref>.
+While SAS devotes a substantial section of its website to supporting Singh's cause, however, it nowhere (as at February 2010) mentions the libel case that [[GE Healthcare]] launched against the radiologist Henrik Thomsen. [[Henrik Thomsen]] had claimed the company's contrast agent [[Omniscan]] which is used in MRI scans caused a 'potentially fatal condition in some patients with kidney problems'. According to Thomsen, 30 patients at Copenhagen University Hospital had developed nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF).<ref>Booth, R. ''The Guardian.'' 20 December 2009. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/dec/20/scientist-libel-law-henrik-thomsen UK libel law has gagged me, says leading Danish radiologist] Accessed 18 February 2010.</ref> Thomsen countersued the company for defamation after it called him a liar in a press release. In the financial year 2007-8 [[GE Healthcare]] was a funder of Sense About Science.<ref>Sense About Science Financial Statement Year Ended 5 April 2008, available [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Image:Sas2008.pdf here]</ref>.
 This begs the question of whether SAS is less concerned about the freedom of scientific debate and more about protecting the interests of its big pharma backers (see Funding, below).

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 ==Notes==
 <references/>
-[[Category:GM]][[Category:Human Genetics]][[Category:GM Lobby Groups]][[Category:LM network]][[Category:Corporate Science (GM)]][[Category:Lobbying groups]][[Category:Nuclear Spin]]
+[[Category:GM]][[Category:Human Genetics]][[Category:GM Lobby Groups]][[Category:LM network]][[Category:Corporate Science (GM)]][[Category:Lobbying groups]][[Category:Nuclear Spin]][[Category:Fracking]]

@@ Line 762: / Line 762: @@
 ==Contact==
 :Website: [http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/ senseaboutscience.org.uk]
 :Facebook: [http://twitter.com/#!/senseaboutsci senseaboutsci]

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:53, 30 April 2015
Line 604:		Line 604:
	*'''December 2012''' - [http://www.senseaboutscience.org/news.php/289/a-one-stop-shop-for-plant-science-questions Plant science panel launched]. Panel members: Dr [[Theodore Allnutt]] \| [[Matt Audley]] \| Dr [[Ian Bedford]] \| Professor [[Tim Benton]] \| Professor [[Duncan Cameron]] \| Professor [[Rob Chilcott]] \| Dr [[Dylan Childs]] \| Dr [[Ian Denholm]] \| Dr [[Peter Eastmond]] \| Dr [[Cornelia Eisenach]] \| Professor [[Lin Field]] \| Professor [[Kevin Folta]] \| Dr [[Miriam Gifford]] \| Dr [[Eleanor Gilroy]] \| Professor [[Julie Gray]] \| Dr [[Richard Harrington]] \| Dr [[Sarah Harvey]] \| Dr [[Wendy Harwood]] \| Dr [[Richard Haslam]] \| Dr [[Ian Henderson]] \| Dr [[Phil Howell]] \| Dr [[Alan Jones]] \| Professor [[Huw Jones]] \| Professor [[Jonathan Jones]] \| Dr [[Robert Koebner]] \| Dr [[Smita Kurup]] \| Professor [[Ottoline Leyser]] \| Professor [[Keith Lindsey]]\| Professor [[Julian Ma]] \| Dr [[Tim Marrs]] \| Dr [[Sarah O’Connor]] \| Professor [[Giles Oldroyd]] \| Professor [[Lars Østergaard]] \| Dr [[Anne Osterrieder]] \| Dr [[Helen Roy]] \| Dr [[Patrick Schäfer]] \| Dr [[Joachim Schiemann]] \| Dr [[Robin Sen]] \| Professor [[Alison Smith]] \| Dr [[Lisa Smith]] \| Dr [[Penny Sparrow]] \| Professor [[Derek Stewart]] \| [[Claire Stoker]] \| Dr [[Jeremy Sweet]] \| [[James Syrett]] \| [[Paul Temple]] \| Dr [[Steve Thomas]] \| [[Professor Jurriaan Ton]] \| Dr [[Hanna Tuomisto]] \| Dr [[Joana Vicente]] \| Professor [[Martin Warren]] \| Dr [[Joan Webber]] \| Dr [[Astrid Wingler]] \| Dr [[Donatella Zona]]		*'''December 2012''' - [http://www.senseaboutscience.org/news.php/289/a-one-stop-shop-for-plant-science-questions Plant science panel launched]. Panel members: Dr [[Theodore Allnutt]] \| [[Matt Audley]] \| Dr [[Ian Bedford]] \| Professor [[Tim Benton]] \| Professor [[Duncan Cameron]] \| Professor [[Rob Chilcott]] \| Dr [[Dylan Childs]] \| Dr [[Ian Denholm]] \| Dr [[Peter Eastmond]] \| Dr [[Cornelia Eisenach]] \| Professor [[Lin Field]] \| Professor [[Kevin Folta]] \| Dr [[Miriam Gifford]] \| Dr [[Eleanor Gilroy]] \| Professor [[Julie Gray]] \| Dr [[Richard Harrington]] \| Dr [[Sarah Harvey]] \| Dr [[Wendy Harwood]] \| Dr [[Richard Haslam]] \| Dr [[Ian Henderson]] \| Dr [[Phil Howell]] \| Dr [[Alan Jones]] \| Professor [[Huw Jones]] \| Professor [[Jonathan Jones]] \| Dr [[Robert Koebner]] \| Dr [[Smita Kurup]] \| Professor [[Ottoline Leyser]] \| Professor [[Keith Lindsey]]\| Professor [[Julian Ma]] \| Dr [[Tim Marrs]] \| Dr [[Sarah O’Connor]] \| Professor [[Giles Oldroyd]] \| Professor [[Lars Østergaard]] \| Dr [[Anne Osterrieder]] \| Dr [[Helen Roy]] \| Dr [[Patrick Schäfer]] \| Dr [[Joachim Schiemann]] \| Dr [[Robin Sen]] \| Professor [[Alison Smith]] \| Dr [[Lisa Smith]] \| Dr [[Penny Sparrow]] \| Professor [[Derek Stewart]] \| [[Claire Stoker]] \| Dr [[Jeremy Sweet]] \| [[James Syrett]] \| [[Paul Temple]] \| Dr [[Steve Thomas]] \| [[Professor Jurriaan Ton]] \| Dr [[Hanna Tuomisto]] \| Dr [[Joana Vicente]] \| Professor [[Martin Warren]] \| Dr [[Joan Webber]] \| Dr [[Astrid Wingler]] \| Dr [[Donatella Zona]]

		+	==Media presence==
		+	<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" border="1" align="right" float="right" width="100%">
		+	<tr><th colspan="4" bgcolor="goldenrod" align="center">Sense About Science Media Presence<ref>Based on a Nexis search for "Sense About Science", accessed 10 January 2015.</ref></th></tr>
		+	<th bgcolor="goldenrod">Publication</th>
		+	<th bgcolor="goldenrod">Beginning</th>
		+	<th bgcolor="goldenrod">Latest as of 10 January 2015</th>
		+	<th bgcolor="goldenrod">Total</th>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">[[The Guardian]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">26 March 2003</td>
		+	<td align="center">30 October 2014</td>
		+	<td align="center">98</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">[[The Observer]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">22 January 2006</td>
		+	<td align="center">5 December 2014</td>
		+	<td align="center">15</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">[[The Times]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">7 October 2003</td>
		+	<td align="center">12 May 2014</td>
		+	<td align="center">76</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">The [[Sunday Times]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">16 March 2008</td>
		+	<td align="center">30 March 2014</td>
		+	<td align="center">18</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">The [[Daily Mail]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">14 July 2006</td>
		+	<td align="center">2 January 2015</td>
		+	<td align="center">32</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">The [[Daily Telegraph]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">28 May 22003</td>
		+	<td align="center">27 January 2014</td>
		+	<td align="center">26</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">The [[Irish Times]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">18 March 2005</td>
		+	<td align="center">12 November 2014</td>
		+	<td align="center">21</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">[[The Independent]]</td>
		+	<td align="center">5 January 2006</td>
		+	<td align="center">20 June 2014</td>
		+	<td align="center">18</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	<tr>
		+	<td align="center">All newspapers</td>
		+	<td align="center">9 August 2002</td>
		+	<td align="center">6 January 2015</td>
		+	<td align="center">678</td>
		+	</tr>
		+	</table>
		+	<br clear="all">

	==Publications==		==Publications==

@@ Line 218: / Line 218: @@
 *Report by Claire Robinson of GMWatch: [http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Nothing_to_declare_%E2%80%93_GM_guide%E2%80%99s_two-faced_science Nothing to declare – GM guide's two-faced science]
-*[[Sense About Science Publications and Contributors]] - See 'Making Sense of GM Contributors' section
+*[[SAS - Making Sense of GM]]
 ===More about Andrew Cockburn===

@@ Line 308: / Line 308: @@
 ==Funding==
 Sense About Science says it is "funded by donations from foundations, science bodies, companies and individuals".<ref>"[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/ScannedAccounts/Ends14%5C0001101114_ac_20070405_e_c.pdf Sense About Science Financial Statements, Year Ended 5 April 2007]", Charity Commission website, accessed February 2009.</ref>
 ===2007-2008===

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:54, 4 September 2013
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	This begs the question of whether SAS is less concerned about the freedom of scientific debate and more about protecting the interests of its big pharma backers (see Funding, below).		This begs the question of whether SAS is less concerned about the freedom of scientific debate and more about protecting the interests of its big pharma backers (see Funding, below).
−
−	~~==Attacking homeopathy==~~
−
−	SAS criticises alternative medicine such as homeopathy.<ref>[http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/5/ Alternative Medicine], SAS website, accessed 27 Feb 2010</ref> It prominently publicised the [[Merseyside Skeptics Society]]'s stunt of a mass overdose of homeopathic remedies, called the 1023 campaign, or "Homeopathy: There's Nothing In It" (on the basis that none of the overdosers suffered any immediate ill effects from the overdose).<ref>[http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Image:MSS3.jpg Libel laws and Simon Singh], MSS website, accessed 27 Feb 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Image:SAS1.jpg Alternative Medicine], SAS website, screenshot taken 27 Feb 2010</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8489019.stm Sceptics stage homeopathy 'overdose'], BBC News, 30 Jan 2010</ref>
−
−	The stunt was reported to have taken place on 30 January 2010 "at branches of Boots [which sells homeopathic remedies] in places such as Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, London, Leicester, Edinburgh and Birmingham".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8489019.stm Sceptics stage homeopathy 'overdose'], BBC News, 30 Jan 2010</ref> [[Michael Marshall]] of the MSS told the BBC that similar stunts were "also planned in Canada, Spain, the US and Australia", an oddly ambitious campaign for a small Merseyside group.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8489019.stm Sceptics stage homeopathy 'overdose'], BBC News, 30 Jan 2010</ref>
−
−	The stunt attacking homeopathy coincided with evidence being given to a UK government [[Science and Technology Committee]] hearing on the continued funding of homeopathy by the NHS. Most of the witnesses called to testify were a had no experience of, or expertise in homeopathy; some had interests in the pharmaceutical arena, which has a historical antipathy towards alternative medicine and homeopathy. They included:<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/45/45.pdf Witnesses], Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, Fourth Report of Session 2009–10, p. 51</ref>
−	*[[Paul Bennett]], Professional Standards Director and Superintendent Pharmacist, Boots
−	*[[Tracey Brown]], Managing Director, [[Sense About Science]]
−	*Dr [[Ben Goldacre]], Doctor and Journalist. Goldacre is the author of The Guardian's weekly [[Bad Science]] column, which, in common with [[Sense About Science]], attacks alternative medicine and supports [[MMR]].
−	*Professor [[Jayne Lawrence]], Chief Scientific Adviser, [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society]] of Great Britain
−	*[[Robert Wilson]], Chairman, British Association of Homeopathic Manufacturers
−	*Professor [[David Harper]] CBE, Director General, Health Improvement and Protection, and Chief Scientist, Department of Health
−	*[[Mike O'Brien]] QC, MP, Minister for Health Services, Department of Health
−	*Professor [[Kent Woods]], Chief Executive, [[Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency]]
−
−	Note the inclusion of Sense About Science director Tracey Brown, who not only has no qualifications in medicine or homeopathy, but has no science background (see [[Tracey Brown]]). Strangely, no satisfied patients of homeopathy were called to testify before the committee.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/45/45.pdf Memorandum submitted by Maria Jevtics (HO 49)], Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, Fourth Report of Session 2009–10, Ev 191</ref>
−
−	[[David Tredinnick]] MP, in his evidence to the committee, criticised the choice of Tracey Brown as a witness, and detailed Sense About Science's deceitful activities in the past with respect to homeopathy:
−
−	:The Managing Director of Sense about Science, an organisation whose actions over a number of years has caused much harm to homeopathy in the UK, was invited to give evidence. The result of this organisation’s actions has been the closure of courses, the closure of a very good hospital in Kent and withdrawal of NHS contracts following a letter sent to all PCT Chairmen on headed notepaper purporting to have come from the Department of Health instructing them not to commission homeopathic services.
−
−	:The Minister Gillian Merron said in her response to my adjournment debate on 14 October on Complementary and Alternative Medicine that “The hon. Gentleman raised concerns about a document recommending disinvestment from homeopathy, which was circulated using the NHS logo. I can confirm that our inquiries found no record of the Department having authorised the use of the NHS logo and that those who originated the document were asked not to circulate it any further. They were advised about the use of the logo in future and chief executives of trusts were also informed that the document does not represent Government policy.”
−
−	:Sense about Science is an organisation that does not have anyone on their list of advisors who has any expert knowledge in this field.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/45/45.pdf Memorandum submitted by David Tredinnick MP, Chairman, Parliamentary Group for Integrated and Complementary Healthcare (HO 46)], Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, Fourth Report of Session 2009–10, Ev 189</ref>
−
−	~~Tredinnick also noted the bias in the choice of witnesses who were called to give oral evidence to the committee:~~
−	:Only one doctor using homeopathy gave oral evidence... No doctors using homeopathy in a primary care setting have been asked. Dr David Reilly from the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital is regarded as a leading expert on this subject and should have been called. In addition, the Society of Homeopaths, which was discussed both directly and indirectly as the principal organisation representing non-medical homeopaths, should have had the opportunity to put its views forward. I believe that the Committee should have ensured that all the experts in this field were given the opportunity to give oral evidence.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/45/45.pdf Memorandum submitted by David Tredinnick MP, Chairman, Parliamentary Group for Integrated and Complementary Healthcare (HO 46)], Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, Fourth Report of Session 2009–10, Ev 189</ref>
−
−	Unsurprisingly, the Science and Technology Committee concluded "that the NHS should cease funding homeopathy. It also concludes that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) should not allow homeopathic product labels to make medical claims without evidence of efficacy. As they are not medicines, homeopathic products should no longer be licensed by the [[MHRA]]."<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/science_technology/s_t_homeopathy_inquiry.cfm MPS URGE GOVERNMENT TO WITHDRAW NHS FUNDING AND MHRA LICENSING OF HOMEOPATHY], Science and Technology Committee, UK Parliament website, accessed 27 Feb 2010</ref>
−
−	~~In response to the Science and Technology committee report, Tredinnick tabled an early day motion (EDM) on 23 February 2010, stating:~~
−	:That this House expresses concern at the conclusions of the Science and Technology Committee's Report, Evidence Check on Homeopathy; notes that the Committee took only oral evidence from a limited number of witnesses, including known critics of homeopathy Tracy Brown, the Managing Director of Sense About Science, and journalist Dr Ben Goldacre, who have no expertise in the subject; believes that evidence should have been heard from primary care trusts that commission homeopathy, doctors who use it in a primary care setting, and other relevant organisations, such as the Society of Homeopaths, to provide balance; observes that the Committee did not consider evidence from abroad from countries such as France and Germany, where provision of homeopathy is far more widespread than in the UK, or from India, where it is part of the health service; regrets that the Committee ignored the 74 randomised controlled trials comparing homeopathy with placebo, of which 63 showed homeopathic treatments were effective, and that the Committee recommends no further research; further notes that 206 hon.Members signed Early Day Motion No. 1240 in support of NHS homeopathic hospitals in Session 2006-07; and calls on the Government to maintain its policy of allowing decision-making on individual clinical interventions, including homeopathy, to remain in the hands of local NHS service providers and practitioners who are best placed to know their community's needs.<ref>David Tredinnick, [http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40517 David Tredinnick MP: Early Day Motion 908: Sci & Tech Committee Report], UK Parliament website, accessed 27 Feb 2010</ref>

	==Nuclear spin in wake of Fukushima==		==Nuclear spin in wake of Fukushima==