It looks like there was an ironic exchange on ECOLOG this week. While the discussions about scientists and policy ensued, dozens of ESA members were signing the CASSE position on economic growth. The announcement that Gus Speth, David Orr, Paul Ehrlich et al. had recently signed the position clearly empowered and encouraged ESA members to do likewise. (Meanwhile, the NCSE was asking ECOLOGers to call their legislators about the Holdren/Lubchenco appointments.)
ECOLOGers may also be interested that Vandana Shiva and Wendell Berry also signed the CASSE position this week. The CASSE position continues to attract a productive mix of prominent scientists and other leaders among its signatories. If you're an ecologist, these are leaders worth following. Many scientists, though, seem to think that "we do science, others use it." Hopefully others will use it, but it should be clear to scientists that their voices on matters of public policy are some of the most potent, especially when the science is crucial for identifying helpful policy goals. Why leave their findings and insights to those less prepared to explicate them, or to those not inclined to consider them at all? I think we owe a great deal of gratitude to the scientists who USE their scientific and political capital for the public's welfare instead of mothballing their credibility. Surely the key to environmental protection and economic security is not to maximize scientific credibility or minimize social responsibility, but rather to optimize the mixture. Brian Czech, Visiting Professor Natural Resources Program Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University National Capital Region, Northern Virginia Center 7054 Haycock Road, Room 411 Falls Church, Virginia 22043 ________________________________ From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Tom Cuba Sent: Wed 2009-03-04 13:51 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Thank you for responding to the survey! Maiken writes: "the debate so intense, the answers so contradictory,...." I would say the first results are in - there is no consensus. Not on the problem and not on what to do about it. Maiken Winter wrote: > I owe you all a short explanation - I developed the survey I posted yesterday > (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=S2Q7Cyxa8xmJSiRNn_2b8Opw_3d_3d) > not for a scientific study but to get a quick overview over the thoughts > of scientists about their role in climate action. I plan to use the > results to write a commentary ona blog, the Clean Energy Project > (www.cleanenergy-project.de). Obviously, the survey is not perfect at all; > but it does give interesting results so far. > > As it turns out, the responses are so many, the debate so intense, the > answers so contradictory, that I do want to improve this survey and repeat > it professionally to be able to have a more scientific debate on an issue > that is - in my opinion - of major importance. > > Basically, I believe it is high time what we seriously rethink and debate > our role as scientists in society, and about the prioritization of our > work. Is it true that scientists have no more responsibility to act than > any other citizen - as some people commented? But isn't it also true that > we are privileged to be educated and wealthy enough to have the means and > freedom to think through the scientific evidence, and to understand what > that evidence truly means? > > If we, as scientists, feel that we understand science better than other > people, isn't it our uttermost responsibility to pass on this knowledge > and understanding on to others? Not only to other scientists, but also to > the public and politicians as well. "Science is not politics, and > scientists should stay away from politics", one scientist commented. But > relying on politicians and media to interpret our data got us in the > trouble we are in today. > > I hope this survey stimulates further discussion (but please more > friendly; I love debate, but only when it is based on mutual respect) and > helps us to step a bit further out of our science glasshouse to take > responsibility for what we all work for - a deeper understanding of nature > so that future generations can admire and witness what we discover. Many > of those discoveries will be useless if we do not act quickly on climate > change together. > > Please do know that I am well aware of the danger to lose credibility when > getting active in public affairs, and that I absolutely do not pretend to > know the solution of how to best balance both sides. But I do believe that > at the moment we are not courageous enough to try out how to best stand on > that rope, and that our priorities at the moment are often too selfish and > short-sighted, myself included. > > Thank you to all those who have participated in the survey so far! And > thanks for those who will. > > Maiken Winter > > > -- Thomas R. Cuba, Ph.D., CEP, CLM President, Delta Seven Inc. http://www.delta-seven.com <http://www.delta-seven.com/> 727-823-2443
