Should Science be Silenced?

Author(s): Mark A. Brown, Ryan Knodle, Gillian Bowser

Since the emergence of news related to the development of a modified H5N1-virus, a media and political firestorm has ensued. Many global health officials have condemned the publication of the results and methods related to the H5N1 findings, citing obvious threats of bioterrorism. Adamantly opposing the redaction and limitation of the research are members of the scientific community, who are calling the attempts at censorship a blatant disregard for the openness of science and the dissemination of discoveries. Herein, we discuss the fallout of these recent events and their impacts on the scientific and global health communities.

Scientific Censorship, Microbiology, Social Justice

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