The mastermind behind Biden’s ‘Indigenous Knowledge’ push faces sanctions from top science board

A senior White House official has been barred from publishing scientific studies or collaborating with the National Academy of Sciences due to ethics⁣ violations. However, this hasn’t stopped Jane Lubchenco, the‌ deputy director of ​the White House Office⁢ of‍ Science and Technology ⁢Policy, from exerting influence on national science policy.

In August​ 2022, Lubchenco was sanctioned by the National Academy of Sciences⁢ for ⁣editing ⁢a‌ paper⁤ that contained faulty data, which was coauthored​ by her brother-in-law. The academy, known ‌as the most prestigious scientific organization ‍in the country, deemed this⁢ a⁤ major ethical violation and retracted‌ the paper. As a result, Lubchenco ⁤is prohibited from ‍publishing any papers ‍through the organization for the ‍next five years.

Despite ⁤these allegations, Lubchenco continues​ to ⁤oversee various federal initiatives as an‍ environmental ​scientist. ‍One such initiative involves elevating ⁢Native American folk⁤ traditions‍ to the level ⁣of scientific fact, a​ concept known as “indigenous knowledge.”

Emails obtained through ⁢a Freedom ⁤of Information⁣ Act⁤ request reveal that Lubchenco played ⁣a key role in‍ directing⁤ federal agencies to incorporate indigenous‌ knowledge into their decision-making​ processes. This guidance encourages regulators to consider the spiritual wisdom of native peoples ⁣when crafting ​policies.

However, many scientists ⁣have criticized this push, labeling it as a dangerous embrace of pseudoscience.

Lubchenco, a⁣ marine ecologist, was appointed as the⁤ head of ⁣the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by former president Barack Obama in 2009. During the⁣ Trump administration, she taught at ⁣Oregon State University while maintaining close ties with left-wing climate​ activists.

Despite her ​ethics violation, Lubchenco remains influential​ in the field of science. She has urged policymakers to listen to scientists and has actively supported candidates like Joe Biden, emphasizing the importance of equity, environmental⁢ justice, and sustainability.

In March 2021, Lubchenco ⁣was appointed to the newly created Office ‍of Science and⁣ Technology Policy by President Biden. However, ⁣in​ February 2022, a group‍ of House ‍Republicans petitioned ‍Biden to investigate Lubchenco’s ⁢role in publishing​ an article⁢ with ‌faulty data, which‌ they considered a violation of‍ scientific integrity.

Although there is no evidence of​ disciplinary⁣ action taken ​by the​ White House, the National Academy‌ of Sciences conducted its own investigation​ and sanctioned Lubchenco in August 2022. Shortly after, the Office of ‌Science ‌and Technology Policy ⁣released its⁣ first report on “Protecting⁢ the Integrity of Government Science.”

By ⁢November ⁣2022, Lubchenco was​ actively involved in the office’s memo on indigenous knowledge,⁢ which promotes the idea that time is cyclical⁢ rather than sequential. The White House subsequently released‌ a blog post explaining the importance ‍of incorporating indigenous knowledge ⁤into evidence-based policy making.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy ​has not provided a comment⁣ on the matter.