Recently, a group called Take the Flour Back threatened to destroy publicly funded research on aphid-resistant wheat at Rothamsted research institute in Hertfordshire, England. The scientists, including Dr. Gia Aradottir, pleaded with the activists to let them continue their research, which could eventually result in decreased use of pesticides on wheat. Scientists and people interested in science around the world spread the story, saying that even if someone is against genetic engineering, they should let this research continue. The Twitter hashtag #dontdestroyresearch helped spread the word. The result was that there was a protest but the research was not harmed (Guardian).

Science is still at risk

While we can all breathe a sigh of relief at the way the situation at Rothamsted ended up, science is still at risk. Now, there is an even more complex story concerning a researcher from the University of Tuscia in Rome, Italy.
Continue reading “Don’t destroy research – Italy edition” →