Break down the oil slick, keep it off the shores: that's grounds for pumping toxic dispersant into the Gulf, say clean-up overseers. Susan Shaw shows evidence it's sparing some beaches only at devastating cost to the health of the deep sea.

Susan Shaw highlights decades of industry delays and cover-ups, starting with tobacco, to protect vested interests at the expense of public health. Drawing on a 30-year career as an environmental scientist, explorer, author, and ocean advocate, Shaw spoke about the impact of the “raging” war on science. Science for the public good always wins o...