All That’s Gold Does Not Glitter

At the end of this week, federal agencies will have submitted their plans to the White House outlining implementation of the Administration’s executive order on “Gold Standard Science.” The order and accompanying guidance memo have been met with rightful outrage and grave concern across our Earth and space sciences community.  

I am heartened to see colleagues from across the scientific enterprise speaking out. Be sure to read the important perspective from the editors-in-chief of AGU’s Journals in the latest issue of Advances.  

Our editors-in-chief call thoughtful attention to several points from the executive order that we should all be considering: 

• That this is a further attempt by the administration to undermine public trust in science by bringing unfounded attacks on the U.S. scientific enterprise. 

• That this order suppresses critical scientific facts because those facts inconveniently stand in the way of the administration’s political agenda. 

• That political appointees with a mandate for advancing that political agenda will now be the gatekeepers of what federal scientific research may be published. 

Don’t be fooled, this “gold standard” is about politics, not science. It co-opts the very language and practices we all have abided by, twisting it to support an agenda that will undermine advances across a range of critical areas, from climate science and new sources of clean energy to natural disaster preparedness and air and water quality. 

To add insult to injury, the executive order comes on top of reckless and indiscriminate cuts to the federal science workforce and the cancellation of critical research funding.  

AGU’s position statement on the Responsibilities and Rights of Scientists spells out an established community standard that has always advocated for protecting research integrity and promoting open collaboration.  

And while the prevalence of paper mills is increasing, that does not mean our community is not answering back. Scientist-backed journals like AGU’s have rigorous peer review and always-evolving mechanisms to keep up with and catch scientific misconduct. 

AGU will continue to stand its ground, emphatically defending science, fighting for federal workers through the legislature and the courts, advocating for funding, and establishing novel ways for scientists to collaborate and share their research when government support disappears.  

We call on all members and partner societies to stand up for the real gold standard science. Use our toolkit to craft your own op-ed. Join AGU’s Days of Action and tell Congress to reject policies that threaten scientific integrity and independent, evidence-based research. 

Schedule virtual or in-person meetings with your representatives during the current congressional recess.  

A gold standard? It already exists. The global scientific community you have built together here at AGU has always reached for the highest standard. We know this is the only way to ensure our science takes root and grows. Our commitment to those high standards helps to ensure a global enterprise that grows and thrives.