President Barack Obama announced the appointment of four members to his science and technology team, a group charged with crafting science policy regarding the life sciences, the environment, health and technology.

“It’s about ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology. It’s about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s inconvenient,” Obama stated on his website. The newly elected president emphasized that government officials must provide necessary resources to scientists and work hand-in-hand with them to design effective legislation.