Scientocracy: The Tangled Web of Public Science and Public Policy

Science has long been the key to objective knowledge. Some of that knowledge, for instance, information about nutrition, climate change, hydrology, geology, and ecology, influences our daily decisions. Science also informs governments that seek to define risks and mitigate dangers. The popular notion is that science is a force for good and that knowledge derived from theory and experiment gives rise to technological advancement, improving everyone's lives. This, however, is not always the case.

Science can be a force for good, and it has enhanced our lives in countless ways. But even a cursory look at science in the 20th century shows that what passes for science can be detrimental. Scientocracy documents only some of the more recent abuses of science that informed members of the public should be aware of.