Lysenkoism—and the concern for merit in science and engineering

For John, BLUF:  Lysenkoism is "any deliberate distortion of scientific facts or theories for purposes that are deemed politically or socially desirable."  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Researchers Fight Back Against ‘Ideological Capture’ of Modern Science

Here is the sub-headline:

Jerry A. Coyne and Anna Krylov argue that narrative-based ideology now dominates research in the U.S. more pervasively than it did at the Soviet Union’s height.

From Legal Insurrection, by Blogger Leslie Eastman, 30 April 2023 at 02:00pm.

Here is the lede plus two:

For over eight months, I have been chronicling the “ideological capture” of our scientific institutions, which has led to the reduction or elimination of funding to scientists whose research challenged “settled science”; to the deplatforming scientists, engineers, and technical professionals who go against the narrative; and to the denial of tenure, promotions, or hiring because research doesn’t meet the currently approved world view.

. . .

Scientists are now adding the weight of their experience and observations to the fight against this trend.  The Wall Street Journal recently published a truly insightful opinion piece by Dr. Jerry A. Coyne (professor emeritus of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago) and Dr. Anna Krylov (professor of chemistry at the University of Southern California).

In their article, entitled “The ‘Hurtful’ Idea of Scientific Merit,” Coyne and Krylov argue that narrative-based ideology now dominates research in the U.S. more pervasively than it did at the Soviet Union’s height.

My Middle Brother, who had a very successful career in high tech acquisition for the Department of Defense, accuses me of, by pushing merit, excluding members of the accepted minority groups,  I am not for excluding anyone.  If you are the best qualified, the most innovative, you should be the hire.  If being hired into a supervisory role, you should include in your tasks, fostering meritocracy and helping all people improve their game, their merit, regardless of who they are.

So, is this perceived flight from merit because women in Academic STEM have an advantage over men in hiring decisions, as researchers have found?  Or is it because of the domination of academia by Progressives?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff