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mlhodges's picture

 I am surprised that this

 I am surprised that this general problem – the disconnection between scientists and the public – has not come up more often in the media. Or, on another note, perhaps it has and I haven’t noticed, therefore I am surprised it hasn’t created more problems within the scientific community and general public. To resolve this problem, Dakota’s argument regarding science and educational reform surfaces again. In order to prevent more serious, ethical problems that can arise later in a scientist’s career, it is necessary to correct the problem early in their education, maybe even during their undergraduate years. Perhaps all scientists/doctors should practice by conducting an experiment, collecting data and presenting results to a panel of scientists/doctors before they can continue with publishing their own research later in their careers. I understand this is, to a degree, what we do as an undergrad when we participate in labs and then write a lab report, however, maybe this should be a requirement again later before it is legal for them to publish their own research. Also, the consequences for falsifying data should be revamped. They should be more severe than revoking a license. 

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