Archive for April 2020
Looking to the Future of Pandemic Response
In the past months, Covid-19 has exposed major gaps in the safety nets required to protect our society and how it can react during national crisis. How did we get to this point? Could we have avoided much of the social insecurity, deaths and economic damage that are arising from this advancing pandemic? Despite their close proximity to the pandemic epicenter in China and high…
Read More3 Steps to Getting Back to Business Post Covid-19
Independence by July 4 We want to get everyone safely back to work and out of their homes by Independence Day. This might sound farfetched, but it is not impossible. What we need to do is TEST, TEST, TEST. Below, we have outlined how we get our Independence by Independence Day. Many policy recommendations have been floated, but to reopen safely and stay open we need a nationally coordinated effort…
Read MoreAsk a Scientist: How do volcanoes erupt? What is a volcano?
The earth is like a chocolate covered ice cream bar. When you take that first bite – the chocolate coating cracks in a bunch of places. The chocolate coating is the Earth’s Crust and then ice cream is the Earth’s Mantle. How do Volcanos Erupt? The crust of the Earth is made of tectonic plates.…
Read MoreTitanium Drilling in the Okefenokee Swamp
A mining company has proposed to drill for titanium near the Okefenokee Swamp and National Wildlife Refuge. Wetlands are a vital natural resource. They filter water for drinking and irrigation. They mitigate the effects of extreme weather events, including hurricanes. The drilling permit raises red flags in that is unclear on the environmental impact, the…
Read MoreSuspension of EPA Regulations During COVID-19
The EPA is using COVID-19 as an excuse to suspend enforcement of pollution regulations. This is a time of crisis; however, these suspensions are very open ended. There is no statement on when enforcement will begin again (or a requirement to revisit the suspension once a month or every 90 days). There is no statement…
Read MoreNew EPA Rules Would Base Regulations on Unethical Science
Update Apr 15 with new information on an extended comment period and a link to AAAS resources. Currently there is a new rule under consideration for the EPA called “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science.” It would require transparency in what studies are used in the formulation of EPA guidelines, rules, and regulation. In this case,…
Read MoreScience for Georgia joins AAAS’s Local Science Engagement Network
It’s no joke – Science for Georgia joined AAAS’s Local Science Engagement Network (LSEN) on April 1st. The LSEN is a partnership of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Science for Georgia. LSEN aims to elevate the voice of science and the use of evidence in civic society and policy discussion. LSEN will…
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