After Outcry, Oil Data Inches Into the Open (Science)

[jpak]

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/329/5994/888-a

In a largely unexpected and welcome move, BP has revised its contracts to remove restrictions on discussing or publishing any data collected on their dime for up to 3 years. And with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration relaxing its own restrictions on publishing assessment data, scientists are hopeful that the so-called Natural Resource Damage Assessment, the legal process during which the government and BP collect evidence on the extent of the oil's impact, will be less adversarial than they'd feared. A sample contract provided to Science by BP allows signers to publish "written research papers, presentations and similar documents reporting any environmental data obtained or produced" as a consultant after giving BP 30 days' notice and a copy of the intended publication.

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[mike r]

1. Same page: The Case of the Missing $470 Million in BP's Promised Research Fund

On 24 May, as scientists fretted about what the oil gushing out of BP's blown Macondo well might do to deep-sea corals, wetland birds, and young fish, BP pledged $500 million over the next 10 years to support independent research to answer such questions. But just 3 weeks later, a presidential directive put the money on hold. 2 months have passed with few clues about the fate of the money...

[jpak]

2. The coverup continues...

not

If that $470 is not to be squandered or misappropriated, there has to be some review mechanism that make sure it is spent on the most productive and insightful research.

The National Science Foundation does not throw grant $$$ to anyone who submits at proposal.

There is nothing sinister here - a system to allocate BP Research Bux on a merit basis needs to be in place to make sure the money is well spent.