But the directives required scientists to report "close and continuing contact" with nationals of sensitive countries -- a designation that covers Russia and most countries in Asia, but few countries in Europe.
Human beings are predisposed to think of evolution as teleological i.e., having a purpose or directive principle and the ways scientists talk about natural selection can feed this predisposition.
When the Harper government was elected, a communications directive was issued that prevented scientists from speaking to the media without permission.
If the new directive has the effect of sending scientists back into their labs and preventing them from talking publicly about their research, then taxpayers will be the big losers.
However, some elements of the directive could still pose problems for scientists.
RAS scientific secretary Nikolai Plate responds that the directive's aim is solely to remind scientists to guard intellectual property.
The requirements prompted some top scientists to speculate that the directive was influenced heavily by the KGB's successor agency, the Federal Security Service (ScienceNOW, 5 June).
Last month's counterintelligence directive spells out when DOE staff and scientists have to report "close and continuing contact" with citizens of "sensitive" nations, such as China, India, and Russia.
Although the revision may end the controversy, some observers are discouraged by how few scientists bothered to complain about the original directive.
And Australian scientists have their fingers crossed, hoping the directive from Greg Hunt, revealed this morning, really indicates the federal government is reversing a previous decision to scale back climate research efforts.
It flows from an 29 October presidential directive ordering a plan to prevent foreign students and scientists from "abusing" the visa process by which they gain entry to U.S. schools.
