Scientific Integrity and Peer Reviewed Geoduck Studies

"The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions"

This all important line was contained in a November of 2011 Presidential Memorandum sent to Executive Departments and Agencies which was entitled "Scientific Integrity" (click here for copy). In part, it states: "When scientific or technological information is considered in policy decisions, the information should be subject to well-established scientific processes, including peer review where appropriate" From this, Executive Order 13563 was issued, emphasising the importance of the public being able to rely on the integrity of scientific studies agencies rely on (Section 5), and the public's involvement in agency decision making (Section 2).

In part this belief in the importance of studies being peer-reviewed before presentations and agency decision making is made based on them was reflected in the funding of the University of Washington's Sea Grant to perform these studies, codified in RCW 28B.20.475, Section 3 which says:
All research commissioned under this section must be subjected to a rigorous peer review process prior to being accepted and reported by the sea grant program.

March 6 at Alderbrook, Sea Grant and the Department of Ecology are sponsoring a "Geoduck Research Symposium." (click for flier) A question to be asked by anyone attending and any agency considering the information for policy decision making is what has been peer reviewed. Something for the University of Washington and Sea Grant to ensure is the status of these studies be made clear, before each study is reported on.