Another victim of the republican war on science

The Savanna River Ecology Laboratory of the University of Georgia is about to go under, after 56 years of ecological research, thanks to the Bush administration's apathy if not antipathy towards science, especially in the environmental arena. Read below the fold two messages on this issue posted to Ecolog-L this week. And visit the Save SREL website to find out if and how you might be able to help them stay open. Howie Neufeld posted the following alert yesterday:

Dear All - Despite a concentrated letter writing campaign, it appears that the Savannah River Ecology Lab is slated to be closed by the end of this month. I received an email from the President of the University of Georgia today in which I quote: "In recent weeks, UGA Vice President David Lee has had several conversations with the Department of Energy in hopes of breaking the impasse and obtaining continued support for SREL. Regrettably, it does not appear that this is possible. Consequently SREL will run out of funds at the end of May and the laboratory must initiate a close-out operation. We are working with the department to effect an orderly close-down of SREL, one that will minimize the human suffering and preserve as much of SREL's research legacy as possible." from Welch Suggs, Asst. to UGA President Michael Adams Thus, an era in ecological research that E.P. Odum helped start comes to a close. I would hope that those still at the lab now would let others in the ecological community know what is in store for the facility, and most importantly, it's researchers, many of whom established international reputations while working at the lab. And what of the long-term ecological research projects that are (or were) ongoing there? Much could be lost by this decision. On a more personal note, I can't wait until a more enlightened administration takes charge in this country, and the environment is put to the forefront where it should always be. I see this as one of the more shameful things that the Bush administration (and Republicans in general) have done with regard to environmental issues. I'm sure this is not how any of us would like to have seen this part of the legacy of E.P. Odum turn out. -- Dr. Howard S. Neufeld, Professor Department of Biology 572 Rivers Street Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 email: neufeldhs@appstate.edu departmental webpage: http://www.biology.appstate.edu/faculty/neufeldhs.htm personal webpage: http://www.appstate.edu/~neufeldhs/index.html

But it may not be all over yet, according to the following message, just posted on Ecolog-L from Prof. Rebecca Sharitz of the SREL:

Dear Colleagues, Many of you have contacted me regarding the message posted yesterday by Howie Neufeld regarding the future of the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Indeed, the Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Operations Office has been blocked by DOE Headquarters from releasing funds (which are available at the SRS and which were promised to SREL both verbally and in writing) to support SREL research programs for the remainder of FY2007. Without additional funding, SREL will run out of money for its ecological research and environmental education programs within a few weeks. For 56 years SREL has provided an independent scientific evaluation of SRS operations. Furthermore, as we move deeper into the 21st century, in the United States and globally there is an increasing need for vastly more (not less) credible scientific research into sensitive ecological and environmental issues. Without the continuance of the kind of objective scientific research conducted at SREL, responsible governments (federal or state) and institutions of higher learning (such as the University of Georgia) run the huge risk of losing much of their public credibility with regard to nuclear activities conducted on or near their lands. Although the SREL budget crisis is extreme and urgent, the laboratory is not yet taking steps to close its doors as the statement from a UGA official quoted by Howie Neufeld in his message yesterday implies. Other possible options to continue SREL’s programs are being actively explored. Continued and vocal support from the public and the broad scientific community may be a key factor in keeping the laboratory viable. Please visit the website: www.savesrel.org for information about what you can do. Sincerely, Dr. Rebecca Sharitz, Professor Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia

So tell yourself, and everyone you know who might care (and who, unlike me, might actually be a voter in this so-called great democracy!), to get on the phone, and call people on this list to register a protest. Let's hope it is not too late...