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Science and Society

Science and Society . Canada Foundation for Innovation October 24, 2006. Why do we have science anyway?. To improve the human condition To provide natural explanations of the nature and workings of the natural world Whether we like the answers or not!.

Jeffrey
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Science and Society

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  1. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation October 24, 2006

  2. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Why do we have science anyway? • To improve the human condition • To provide natural explanations of the nature and workings of the natural world • Whether we like the answers or not!

  3. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Science is limited to human cognition of the objective world….Lu Yonxiang, President, Chinese Academy of Science, 2005

  4. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Baseline assertion: Science and technology are ever-more imbedded in every aspect of modern life!

  5. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Corollaries: • For people to prosper in modern society, they need fundamental understanding and comfort with S&T • For science to prosper and be maximally productive, the science-society relationship must be both positive and strong

  6. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 We have a problem • The science-society relationship is experiencing substantial tension • Is at risk of significant erosion

  7. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 As Charles Dickens would say….. • We’re living in the best of times • And the worst of times

  8. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 On the one hand We’re living in the best of scientific times

  9. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Advances in science are coming at a fantastic pace • The rate of incremental advance is accelerating • New technologies are enabling quantum jumps in understanding

  10. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Functional MRI of a “normal” subject writing a talk Anterior Right Ventral R L Broca’s area posterior Left Parietal Cortex L SMA R Broca’s area Dorsal L. Chang, M.D., T. Ernst, Ph.D., O. Speck, Ph.D. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Generating words (left brain dominant) Chang, et al.

  11. Descartes Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Mind and Body are Inseparable

  12. Descartes Freud Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006

  13. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 On the other hand….

  14. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Other issues within science are not going so well…and negatively affect the broader (societal) context for science • Incidents of scientific misconduct • Human subjects concerns • Animal welfare issues • Conflict of interest problems • “Publishing by press release”

  15. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 These are factors internal to science…

  16. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 The context for science and society is also influenced by external factors…. • Government regulations, priorities and funding

  17. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Events of 9/11/2001 dramatically affected science • Travel restrictions • New research priorities • Bioterrorism • Cybersecurity • Transportation safety • Food safety

  18. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Much is now being influenced by a resurgence of the “SCIENCE-INNOVATION-ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS” factor

  19. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 American Competitiveness Initiative • Doubles funding over 10 years for physical sciences and engineering at NSF, DOE, NIST • Strengthens K-12 math and science education through teacher training and new curriculum materials • Makes R&D tax credit for industry permanent

  20. US Canada China India European Union Israel Japan Australia Belgium Sweden Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Many countries are recognizing the science-economy (jobs) imperative

  21. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is the epitome of a country recognizing this science-economy relationship!

  22. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 The science-innovation-economic factor emphasizes that all people need familiarity and comfort with science and technology

  23. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Something else is going on in how people relate to science and technology • There’s increased tension in the relationship

  24. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 People generally still respect science and technology….

  25. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 US public’s view of scientific research National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators - 2002

  26. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 But they have little understanding of what is and is not science • 60% of Americans believe in extrasensory perception • 41% think astrology is somewhat scientific • 47% still do not answer “true” to the statement: “Human beings developed from earlier species of animals” Science and Engineering Indicators, 2004

  27. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 What do Europeans consider as scientific? • Medicine – 89% • Physics – 83% • Astronomy – 70% • History – 34% • Astrology – 41% • Homeopathy – 33% Source: Eurobarometer, 2005

  28. There’s a lesson here!

  29. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 People need to know about science as an enterprise • What makes something scientific? • The limits of scientific investigation • Natural explanations of the natural world

  30. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 There is increasing tension in the science-society relationship, in part because • A new dimension has been added to the public’s view of and behavior toward science and technology

  31. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Historically, science and technology have been evaluated primarily on the basis of their costs/risks and benefits

  32. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Now, values (and politics) are being overlaid onto “simple” risk/benefit calculations

  33. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Scientific issues that abut against values • Embryonic stem cell research • Studying “personal” topics • Sex • “Intelligent Design” versus evolution in science classrooms and science museums

  34. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Intelligent design claims to believe in gradual change • But a supernatural being guided the process • Claims to be a scientific, alternative theory to evolution • Advocates argue “teach both theories” in science classes

  35. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 The latest attempt to bring religion into the science classroom

  36. = “Intelligent design” initiative eruption

  37. Source: Miller, et. al. Science 313, 765 (2006).

  38. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Many neuroscience issues abut against human values • The nature of the mind • Mind-body-soul concepts • Free will vs. determinism • The ability for anyone to look into your brain and watch your mind in action • Darkest secret thoughts • How to relate to brain disordered individuals • Personal responsibility for your brain diseased behavior

  39. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Overlay of values is having serious consequences for the whole science-society relationship • Society wants to influence science • Rather than just the reverse • Creating a divide between science and the rest of society

  40. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 We can’t just “educate” our way out of it • The problem is not just lack of understanding • People do understand much of what we’re saying or want to do • They don’t like it • The conflict with their core values trumps their view of societal benefits • Only scientists are bound to “stick to the science”

  41. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 What can we do? • Continue protesting/lamenting the situation • Adopt a more assertive strategy • Engage with the public on the issues • Try to find common ground

  42. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Public Understanding +

  43. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Public Education +

  44. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 We need to change not only the style and content but also the intent of the conversation: Communicating Communicating to the public with the public

  45. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 We need to hear from the public about: • Their concerns about science and technology and their concomitants • Risks and benefits • Encroachment on human values • Their priorities among research areas • Questions they would like or need us to answer • Help frame the research agenda

  46. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 The engagement movement is gathering substantial momentum • United Kingdom • European Union as a whole • Canada

  47. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 Fundamentals of effective engagement of the public with S&T: • Build relationships with stakeholders, striving to foster mutual confidence and respect. • Be inclusive of diverse perspectives, sectors and cultures. • Practice “active listening” • Build communication around issues informed by S&T, rather than specifics of the S&T itself. • Practice openness • Put information, ideas and debate in the public realm Science Communications and Opportunities for Public Engagement, Canadian Council of Science and Technology Advisors, 2003

  48. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 One can’t deal with • Evangelical fundamentalists • Evangelical atheists • Militant agnostics

  49. Science and Society Canada Foundation for Innovation – October 24, 2006 One can work with • Undecideds • Rational middle

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