Given the current political reality and the expansion of attacks on science, it is time for scientists to be more effective, forceful, and vociferous as their own political advocates. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt7194
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I believe in the science, but sometimes I disagree with the political stance taken with regard to the science. The science of gender identity is one such instance. Having said that I do acknowledge your belief for more effective advocacy.
It would be great if more scientists became lawmakers. In the UK it seems to be mainly PPE grads,journos and lawyers with little to no scientific background.
Probably also means we need easily accessible training on messaging and branding strategy for scientists so they can talk to the public effectively at their level in ways that better lead to buy-in.
I agree that scientists have an ethical obligation to advocate for the truth, but I’m curious about your thoughts on the potential for some scientists to place politics above scientific evidence and how discourse within science could be perverted as evidence against, for example, climate change
I wrote a similar piece about social scientists. We keep bringing knives to a gunfight to preserve our precious impartiality. The time for pearl clutching has long passed.
Nothing makes people distrust science more than the suspicion that it is being used in a partisan way to further a political agenda. Science changes its mind with new evidence. Political campaigners are famous for disregarding evidence that doesn't support their case. It's good to keep them separate
If we don’t advocate for science and scientists nobody will. At the same time there is intense pressure at Universities and even the private sector right now. My advice is to advocate, but keep emotions in check.
The most famous and renowned scientists MUST become political activists to combat the woeful ignorance of so many MAGA followers, including, alas, members of the new Cabinet!
To oppose vaccines, for example, is a real and present danger for ALL our children and must thus be strongly opposed !
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Even scientists can be corrupted by money (read "Merchants of Doubt", e.g.). The tobacco industry, the coal industry, oil companies, etc., all have their shills and their $influence$ pervades everything. Also, money controls all of the large media outlets. We are going to need a bigger boat.
I would say that conservative has completely changed meaning in recent years particularly in the US. Doesn’t seem to have the old core values of respect for the rule of law, duty before personal gain and accountability for mistakes.
The reality is people who love the limelight and love science are super important even if they aren't the top of their field, or even in the field they promote. Eg. Bill Nye, Nein deGrasse Tyson, Carl Sagan, even the Mythbusters. We need more promoters, and they need to enter politics.
I think personality type might have more to do with scientists staying away from politics. Folks who are so passionate about a specific field of study that they strive to learn what isn't yet known are also the folks that do NOT want to stand in front of strangers that aren't peers. 1 of 2
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https://direct.mit.edu/daed/article/149/4/151/94866/Less-Talk-More-Walk-Why-Climate-Change-Demands
To oppose vaccines, for example, is a real and present danger for ALL our children and must thus be strongly opposed !
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/385140/science-trust-rfk-jr-trump-pew-partisan