Science editors urge self-censorship over terror threats

abc.net.au Sun, Feb 16 2003 11:28 AM AEDT

Editors of top science magazines have voiced concern terrorists could use studies they publish to help make chemical or biological weapons.

Because of this fear a statement has been signed by editors of leading science publications urging cautious self-censorship.

"Any work that might be used by terrorists for malevolent purposes should not be published," the statement said.

"Self-governance," the editors say, is "an alternative to government review of forthcoming journal articles."

The joint statement was released at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting and scheduled for publication in key journals next week.

It resulted from a workshop sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and the Centre for Security and International Studies (CSIS) earlier this year, at the urging of the American Society of Microbiology.

It was presented at the AAAS annual meeting by the president of the American Society of Microbiology, Ronald Atlas.

"Open publication brings benefits not only to public health but also in efforts to combat terrorism," the statement said.

"Without independent verification of research results, we can neither advance biomedical research nor provide the knowledge base for building strong biodefence systems."

Science magazine editor Donald Kennedy hopes scientists and security experts can work on the problem together.

"The two cultures now must come together for the greater good," he said.