You can't lay all the blame for scientific tragidies at the door of the scientists.

For example, when Chernobyl exploded, there was very little done for several days, despite the scientists and engineers pleadings. The politicans though that a major response to it would create a mass panic, and be an admission that Communist engeneering was not as good as that of the West.

With mistakes of that magnitude, there is more than enough blame to spread round evrybody.