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The Silencing Science Tracker is intended to capture government attempts to restrict or prevent scientific research, education, discussion or the publication or use of scientific information. The tracker contains a table of entries, drawn from media reports, which will be updated on a regular basis.

The session “Legal Advice for Scientists Interested in Activism” is one new addition to the conference program. Lauren Kurtz, an attorney with the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, said she suggested it after working with organizers of the March for Science — most of whom were researchers with no previous activism experience.

Legal protections for scientific research materials vary widely in the United States, according to a new Climate Science Legal Defense Fund report, leaving scientists and universities vulnerable to malicious open records requests and endangering the scientific endeavor.

“We think it’s totally appropriate to FOIA for funding information and conflict of interest information,” Lauren Kurtz said. “When you’re getting into research emails and candid communication, I think that’s really harmful.” She added, “Short of something where you have actual evidence of criminal fraud, I think those things should be protected.”

Executive Director Lauren Kurtz writes about how attacks on climate scientists endanger the scientific endeavor.

“These sorts of lawsuits, regardless of outcome, subtract months of labor from the scientific endeavor and cost public universities hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees,” CSLDF’s Lauren Kurtz said.

Executive Director Lauren Kurtz discusses CSLDF’s work protecting climate scientists and the legal challenges facing climate scientists and other researchers.

Executive Director Lauren Kurtz talks about CSLDF’s activities at the 2016 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting and the development of our pocket guide: “Handling Political Harassment & Legal Intimidation.”

CSLDF’s Peter Fontaine talks about how scientists can protect themselves when their work comes under political fire.

CSLDF files a legal brief in support of federal climate scientists who are being sued by the conservative organization Judicial Watch.

CSLDF’s Lauren Kurtz discusses David Schnare, a key member of the Trump transition team, and his anti-science agenda.

Executive director Lauren Kurtz and climate scientist Michael Mann discuss attacks on science in the Trump era.