In addition to ending a ban on stem cell research funding, President Barack Obama issued a potentially landmark memo Monday declaring a new era of "scientific integrity" across government.

In no uncertain terms, Obama signaled that the federal government would be guided by science, not the other way around. In offering a repudiation of the previous administration, he also promised a new era of transparency.

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"Political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions," Obama wrote in an official memorandum. "If scientific and technological information is developed and used by the federal government, it should ordinarily be made available to the public."

After the Bush years, during which scientists of many stripes — from former Surgeon General Richard Carmona to a host of climate change scientists — claimed their results had been ignored, misconstrued or downright changed, the new memo brought cheers from groups dedicated to advancing scientific research.

"[President Obama and this Congress] have already made the choice that they are going to fully support science and invest in science to the solve the big problems — health care, science, and education," said Dr. Stacie Propst, vice president of science policy and outreach at Research!America. "They are going to focus on a science-based economy for us."

Though the memo was released in conjunction with the repeal of a Bush-era ban on stem cells, many saw a broader significance to the memorandum, which directed the

Office of Science and Technology Policy to "develop recommendations for presidential action designed to guarantee scientific integrity throughout the executive branch," within 120 days.

The memo also required that "the selection and retention of candidates for science and technology positions in the executive branch should be based on the candidate's knowledge, credentials, experience and integrity."

The Bush administration, by contrast, was dogged by allegations that key posts were filled with ideologues or political cronies.

Propst said that this common-sense approach to hiring for science positions offered "a stark difference from what many considered to be the more ideological approach" of the Bush administration.

However, some observers said that it's not always easy to separate politics from science, especially on hot-button issues like climate change or stem cell research.

On some issues, following the scientific line might be tougher than it sounds, said Aaron Levine, a public policy professor at Georgia

Tech who studies how ethical controversy influences science.

For instance, if Obama decides to form a bioethics committee, as previous administrations have, it could be difficult to find the right composition of technocrats for the job.

With most bioethicists "on the record" about the hot-button issues of cloning, embryonic stem cell research, genetic modification and euthanasia, it could be difficult to staff a committee in a balanced way. Particularly with regard to embryonic-stem-cell research, where the Obama administration has a clear-cut position, they could run into political trouble.

"I think you can almost guarantee that there will be criticism of whoever Obama selects," Levine said, from the left if he appoints opponents of embryonic stem cells, and from the right if the panel is too unanimous in support of his policies.

And what about when scientists can't come to a definitive conclusion about something, such as the impacts of certain types of advanced biofuel?

"For the hot-button topics, it's going to be tricky," Levine said.

But he held out hope that on more technical, less politicized issues, it would be easier to find clear ground.

"In the more technical topics, levee design, for instance, we'd like our experts to be fully focused on what can you do to build the levees you can," he said.

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Image: AP/Gerald Herbert

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