Some are willing to muzzle science to seek profit
By Benjamin Alva Polley EBS COLUMNIST
The current administration is attacking institutions of knowledge, such as Harvard, and making significant changes to federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is dismissing experienced biologists, firing longtime public stewards, ignoring scientific findings, canceling funding for research on conditions like children’s cancer and black lung disease affecting miners, and altering the Endangered Species Act to the point where protecting habitats for endangered species is no longer a priority. Additionally, the administration is removing facts about climate change from federal websites.
These actions create barriers to scientific progress. As a result, many Americans may find it increasingly difficult to understand and engage with the complexities of the world around them.
What are those in power trying to hide?
Science serves the public and benefits the world. Comprehending the universe is an ongoing odyssey, ultimately seeking to unravel life’s mysteries. The pursuit of science encompasses a wide range of phenomena, from subatomic particles to distant galaxies. This field provides a comprehensive framework for organizing knowledge and explaining the intricate processes and relationships that govern the universe. This structured approach fosters a deeper appreciation and understanding of both life and our surroundings. A world without science, characterized by certainty and fixed beliefs like dogmas, stifles growth and change, ultimately stripping life of its meaning.
The scientific method is a scrupulous discipline dedicated to understanding human and nonhuman environments through observation, experimentation and the formulation of testable hypotheses and theories. Its value lies in generating knowledge, addressing real-world challenges, enhancing living conditions, and informing decision-making across various sectors, including health care, environmental policy and technology.
Scientific inquiry is often motivated by solving critical human and environmental issues. Whether it’s discovering effective treatments for diseases like AIDS or cancer, developing innovative technologies to improve our daily lives, or tackling ecological challenges such as climate change and pollution, scientific research plays a pivotal role in finding viable solutions.
Advancements from dedicated scientific research have significantly improved many aspects of daily life. These improvements include better health care, which has led to longer life expectancies and enhanced quality of care; innovations in agriculture that bolster food security; and breakthroughs in communication and transportation that have transformed how we connect with one another. These advancements also contributed to establishing the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Together, these enhancements lead to a higher quality of life and greater societal well-being, demonstrating the profound impact of science on our everyday experiences.
Moreover, science is not just essential; it empowers informed decisions across numerous fields, including public policy, environmental resource management, and individual lifestyle choices. It helps individuals become more mindful of their material consumption and waste, promoting ethical living in harmony with other planetary life forms. Individuals and policymakers can craft more effective strategies that serve the public good and enhance community resilience by engaging with credible scientific evidence.
However, when governments impose restrictions on scientific discourse, they may inadvertently aim to shape public perception or overlook critical facts essential for the health of society, the planet and wildlife. This pattern is often observed in authoritarian regimes prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare, frequently striving to minimize or eliminate regulations hindering industry profitability and responsibility. Such a situation underscores the critical importance of prioritizing the health and safety of citizens, which is a fundamental responsibility of any government. The potential consequences of anti-science policies, such as environmental degradation and public health crises, should be a cause for concern and a call to action.
Hiding facts and knowledge that benefit the citizenry is not only criminal; it is morally reprehensible. When this occurs, those in power attempt to deceive the public and take advantage of the situation without regard for the consequences. They seek to control knowledge of what is factual, even if they lack the qualifications to do so. They often do not want to be held accountable when they harm our air, habitat, water, or wildlife; therefore, they suppress scientific inquiry and eliminate guardrails that may keep them in check. Science is crucial for holding them accountable by bringing truth to power.
Science frequently engages in constructive dialogue with established dogmas that promote an overly simplistic sense of certainty. While scientific inquiry embraces the unknown and evolves through continuous learning, discovery, and adaptation, certain institutions may seek to control thought by cutting the connection between wonder and reality. It is crucial to foster an environment where curiosity and exploration are encouraged and celebrated, reminding us that there is still much to uncover and marvel at in our ever-evolving world. The world is full of magic and mystery that should be celebrated, not dulled.
Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His words have been published in Audubon, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Men’s Journal, Outside, Popular Science, Rolling Stone (soon), Sierra, and other publications, and they are on his website.
