Remember how James Hansen, the director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, had some differences of opinion with his government superiors over his scientific presentations?

Depositions, supporting documents, and testimony before the House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform hearing on March 19 are now available.

Interesting to government communicators is the testimony of George C. Deutsch III, a campaign worker turned public affairs officer, who details some of the basic work demanded of a public affairs officer at NASA.

As a sorbet, I offer an excerpt from a speech by the Director of the National Science Foundation:

“… The concept of “civic scientist” was not intended to diminish the magnificent contributions of scientists over centuries, and today, but rather to get scientists more broadly involved in the society that was built on their insight and intellect.

First, is to create a dialogue with the public about science and technology that is on the one hand a process of educating the public about what they want and need to know. The flip side of the dialogue is learning to listen to what the public thinks about the directions in which our science and technology are taking us.

And if you think that the job of a civic scientist is to do more talking than listening, think again. The scientist should be as much the listener and learner. In a science and technology driven society, the civic scientist is an integrator — one who knits together what is discovered, what are the opportunities and implications of the discovery, and what is the most necessary new knowledge.”

Even More: Survey of Factors Affecting Science Communications by Scientists and Engineers, from the Royal Society, July 2006. (.pdf)

And Even More: a summary of past programmes supported by the OECD’s Promoting Dialogue between Scientists and Engineers and the Public.