Role of public science in climate change struggles

Scientific institutions must create--and sustain--new kinds of roles so that researchers can provide the deep public engagement necessary to respond effectively to the escalating impacts of #climatechange. The status quo isn't working. My own role as a climate scientist-communicator is highly unusual: I'm a practicing scientist who spends a large fraction (now over half) of my time engaging the public, and the rest of my time actually conducting research. This year, I've given over 200 news interviews & worked with outlets behind the scenes to develop their coverage. I also work with state/federal agencies, brief members of state/national legislatures, and more. Increasingly, all of this requires a high degree of both personal and institutional flexibility: I'm constantly realigning my schedule in response world events, weather/climate disasters, and unpredictable but important requests from all over the world. That makes me quite visible as a public-facing climate scientist--you've probably seen me around! But with that visibility does not necessarily come tangible support from funders & institutions. In fact, my own funding is still on track to potentially run out in 2024. The focus of this Nature World View piece is not intended to be about me! Instead, the goal is to draw attention to a much broader problem: The reality that deep public engagement by domain experts is not really supported *anywhere*--and that desperately needs to change. This is not just a problem in climate, either--it's a much deeper issue not unrelated to the (ongoing) collapse of many journalistic outlets and the general loss of places offering nuanced and meaningfully contextualized discussions on any number of complex issues. Another reality: it's even harder for scientists from marginalized groups. Taking on poorly supported roles that actively invite public scrutiny and can even incite harassment is tall order for those who already face barriers to even more traditional science careers. Ultimately, I'm hoping that using my own rather large megaphone can help draw attention to this challenge. I'm raising it in the context of climate change communication, but I'm really hoping folks see this for the much larger societal challenge that it represents. What can institutions do? Well, the first recommendation sounds boring but would actually be transformational: Find ways to break from institutional inertia & foster culture of "administrative flexibility" that allows for new kinds of roles that blend practice & engagement. Then, yes, it is a question of funding. Universities and funding bodies rapidly need to find ways to tangibly support scientists spending a large fraction of their time engaging with the wider world--and the answer can't continue to be "Well, what about nights and weekends?"

In the public arena, that’s where I think science has to be. Fearlessly contributing facts and models and data to the important debates and conversations Australia is having on key issues. That’s why it was so great chatting this week with ABC Radio’s Raf Epstein, and answering questions from listeners. It reinforced for me again that we must be able to communicate science in a way that allows people to accept the science and debate the policy, rather that rejecting the science out-of-hand to justify a particular position. We cannot go down the dark and dangerous road of conspiracy theories and alternative facts! That’s why it’s important we keep lifting the bonnet on science, so the community understands the rigour in the scientific process and its foundations of facts, good governance and integrity. CSIRO, as the national science agency, has a really important role to play in this and it’s important we’re in the arena because public debate and policy decisions will be made by others, but they need to be informed by science. All of this matters because it’s hard to think of a time when we’ve had so much advanced technology, astonishing knowledge and the capacity to determine the future of our planet. As a society, we’re making (or will make) big decisions on everything from climate change to how we use AI to how we respond to pandemics. Navigating those challenges, making the best decisions, will depend on public attitudes so it’s important the community understands what we do and why science is different from religion or politics or opinion or social media. So science has to be energetically in the area, thoughtfully presenting the facts, committed to building trust, and helping to shine a light on the right path. So much of the future depends on it. https://lnkd.in/gTnX2jqD  

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Reflections from the Inaugural Lecture of Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, CEO of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and first female full professor of physics. In an era where climate change has shifted from a distant threat to an immediate reality, there is an urgent need to draw the connecting lines between science, governance, and leadership. At the recent inaugural lecture delivered by Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse at the University of Ghana, this point was made powerfully and unequivocally. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 Prof. Klutse’s lecture was a deep dive into the nexus of climate science and governance. As a physicist, she underscored how the changing climate is best understood through scientific models, data simulations, and empirical evidence. But she didn't stop at the science. “Adaptation and mitigation require more than just knowledge; they require political will.” 𝗔 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. One of the most striking dynamics in Prof. Klutse’s lecture was her insistence on integrating climate science into national policy frameworks. She pointed to Ghana’s own National Climate Change Policy—not as a document to be shelved but as a living blueprint to be implemented, monitored, and constantly reviewed. 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻-𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 Though grounded in the Ghanaian context, the lecture carried continental weight. Africa contributes the least to global emissions yet suffers the most. Still, the continent holds some of the world’s most powerful climate solutions—from vast renewable energy potential to indigenous knowledge systems that protect biodiversity. Prof. Klutse’s message was clear: Africa must lead its own climate story. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 She also acknowledged the critical role of civil society, academia, media, traditional leaders, and youth in shaping a more sustainable future. Her call for an all-hands-on-deck approach included integrating climate science into basic education and leveraging community knowledge in designing solutions. 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 What stood out most to me was Prof. Klutse’s humility, clarity, and unwavering conviction. Her lecture wasn’t just an academic exercise—it was a moral charge, a national awakening, and a leadership challenge. 🔗 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? Can we, as professionals and citizens, do more to connect the dots between science and governance? Have you seen examples where politics helped—or hindered—climate action in your region? Let’s discuss this in the comments. 👇 👇