A live webcast of a discussion on the impact of government suppression
and manipulation of scientific information on public health, safety, and
accountability at national, state, and local levels, entitled “Closed
Doors; Open Democracies?”, will be hosted by New York University
Libraries’ Business and Government Documents Center and the Coles
Science Salon on Monday, March 12, from 1-2:30 p.m. The webcast will
be shown at 19 W. 4th Street, in room 101 in New York City.

The event features Ira Flatow, host and executive producer of NPR’s
“Science Friday” and two panels of experts in a national dialogue
addressing issues of access to government information. The webcast is
free and open to the public.

The first panel will focus on national issues and will feature such
speakers as Francesca Grifo, senior scientist and director of Scientific
Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, presenting an
overview on “how secrecy can make you sick”; Rick Piltz, whistleblower
on the Bush administration’s manipulation of scientific reporting
related to global warming; Susan Wood, former FDA official who quit over
the delay of Plan B; and Jay Dyckman, director of The Knowledge Project.

Panel 2 focuses on state and local issues. Speakers include Dorothy
Biggs, former EPA librarian; Bill Wolfe, director, NJ Chapter of the
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; and Mark Tapscott,
editorial page editor of the Washington Examiner.

The program originates from the National Press Club in Washington D.C.
and kicks off Sunshine Week 2007 (visit www.sunshineweek.org). For
additional information about the program see
http://openthegovernment.org/article/subarchive/94