Should the Government Filter Federally Funded Research or Should the Public Have the Right to Access the Unfiltered Information

To the general public, science often has an aura of mystery.  It is often perceived as difficult to understand – too much maths – or it is thought to have concepts which only certain people can deal with. Many are afraid of science because they think it is too complicated for them, so they lose interest. The jargon of specialists can also be off putting. 

Yet the aims of science are to discover and make sense of the world; to broaden human knowledge about where we live and how it all works. Human inventiveness has used scientific knowledge to invent instruments to delve deeper into the hidden parts. Research enlightens and informs and can help us to stop behavior which damages the world. 

In spite of the reservations caused by fear and jargon, the results of federally funded science should be made available to the public without being filtered. The essence of science is that experiments can be repeated and therefore cross checked by others to demonstrate their accuracy; sometimes to provide further interpretation and trigger further research. Being able to interpret, understand and recognize the significance of research, requires some specialist knowledge. Thus a balance is needed between giving unfiltered information using scientific language for the scientists and using language which the general public can understand. Jargon is an important shorthand for the specialist but should be explainable using everyday language. 

The balance is important because without complete details of the information available, it is impossible to be able to make decisions, whether for other scientists or the general public. If the results are filtered, who does the filtering, because what is taken out might be the vital piece of evidence that is necessary to understand and make decisions about the value of the research. Filtered results are distorted and may lead to misunderstanding. 

If the research is to be filtered, is that because information has become available which the authorities do not want released?  There are many reasons for deceiving the public. Was the research suspect? Was the aim immoral? Was the aim trivial or dangerous? The very fact that the results should be published unfiltered is a safeguard against unethical research.  

Modern science has the capacity to unravel amazing information.  It seems sad that this skill, knowledge base and curiosity should be hidden from the public.  What was considered impossible a hundred years ago is now common knowledge, understood by most of the population.  We no longer drive cars with a man walking with a red flag in front.  We no longer fear the damage speed might do to our bodies.  We have investigated and know what is safe. 

Unfiltered results are important to us all so that we can be informed to make decisions.