The Rising Tide of Scientific Censorship: What You Need to Know

Geologist Dr. Casey Luskin reports: A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science highlights increasing scientific censorship driven by perspective and research agenda.

More scientific articles are being rejected under claims they contradict mainstream views on evolution and materialism. Further, conservative scientists face exclusion from speaking at scientific conferences because their views and research don't align with established opinions.

Hundreds of researchers have faced sanctions for expressing controversial ideas, with a marked increase in these sanctions over the past decade. Surveys among academics showed support for censorship and sanctions: between 25% and 43% of students support dismissals, sanctions, and bans against researchers reporting "controversial" findings. This suggests that as future students occupy academic chairs, censorship will only intensify.

Conservative researchers are deliberately thwarted in job recruitment, promotions, grants, and publications, leading to self-censorship out of fear of repercussions.

There are cases of severe censorship—firings, retraction of published articles, ostracism, and vilification. Yet perhaps more frightening is the subtle censorship, the daily fear, the difficulty of expressing opinions, and the need to please professors and deans.

Peer review can obscure biases by hiding selective, arbitrary, and subjective decisions. Censorship harms the public's right to accurate information and diminishes public trust in science, which is a shame.

Next time someone tells you "most scientists believe this or that," you'll know how that majority was reached...