SCARED-YOUNG-SCIENTIST: USING ART TO COMMUNICATE SCIENTISTS’ FEARS OF CLIMATE CATASTROPHE
Science + Art + Activism: The need for nuanced thinking when it comes to science communication regarding climate change
FEAR: ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO TROPICAL FORESTS, CLIMATE INDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRISES, CLIMATE INDUCED FAMINE
While in the middle of my typical morning routine (downing bowls of müsli, drinking 3-4 cups of instant coffee, glancing at my hausaufgaben all whilst watching videos from the new york times), I stumbled upon an interesting photo series by Rachel Guest & Celine Faledam and photographer Nick Bowers entitled "Scared Scientists". This series aims to illustrate the fears of scientists working develop solutions to mitigate and/or combat anthropogenic climate change.
Willful ignorance is humanity's worst attribute and greatest enemy. As scientists, we recognize the seriousness and severity of the threat of global climate change. Moreover, we recognize that societal apathy brings about a terrifying level of political inaction when it comes to #ActingOnClimate. As a community that studies the massive negative consequences of climate change to many parts of the earth system, it is particularly frustrating. How can the greatest global problem that humans have ever faced be simply ignored? Why isn't it dominating news headlines? The answer is complex and multifaceted; however, to the dismay of many scientists, myself included, it may partly be due to miscommunication on the part of the science community!
Addressing the gap in science communication will not be the cure-all, but it definitely couldn't hurt. There are many ways to improve science communication like writing a blog (toot, toot), engaging the science community on social media, or documenting research live from the field. The Scared Scientists piece highlights the effectiveness of art as a medium to communicate science and promote environmental activism. The thought provoking series provides what science often times lacks, visual engagement and humanization. By utilizing these ideas, the project engages the audience, provokes intelligent discourse, and spreads awareness for an issue. All of this is accomplished through a creative idea in the simple form of a photo with a two sentence caption. As scientists, we are supposed to embrace this type of out-of-the-box thinking for our research, so I think it is about time that we embrace it when it comes to how we communicate to the rest of the science community in addition to the public.
Too often, I have felt like people (including scientists) try to put science in a box to confine it and give it boundaries. This type of thinking is detrimental to the creative thought that breathes life into science, ultimately giving birth to exciting new knowledge. After my year in Germany, I will be starting an MA program in Conservation Biology at Columbia University. I chose this program because of their innovative approach to educating young scientists. This approach embraces new ways of communication (social media, crowd funding, blogging, etc) to provide us with the tools to become advocates for our own research and passions. In fact, it is one of the only programs in the country that offers a science communication course. I hope that more programs, both graduate and undergraduate, start to incorporate elements of science communication into their curriculum. I've seen enough science presentations now to know that this gap is real and wide. The next time you reach for that 48″ x 36″ poster, think twice.
In relation to my last post on my idea of iSTEM (international experiences + STEM), becoming globally engaged as a scientist is essential. Scientists interested in environmental issues, geopolitcal conflicts, and global climate change must metaphorically (of course) shred their passports and think of themselves of global citizens. This type of thinking facilitates international collaboration and consequently, robust research projects. Therefore, in addition to international experiences, I think that it would be pragmatic to include foreign language into STEM education and as a part of my idea of iSTEM. Although English is the language of science, there are many benefits to being able to communicate with one of your collaborators in their own language. I hope to gain additional experience in this through my current fellowship program, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) or as its called in German, Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Programm (it's a mouthful regardless of language).
I was inspired by the Scared Scientists Project. Ahead of this weeks People's Climate March in my future home of NYC, I attached my own Scared Scientist Photos. I call on all scientists to post their own Scared Scientists Photos this week to help bolster support for the People's Climate March and to vocalize the need for improved science communication. I would like to particularly challenge other young scientists or students to post their Scared Scientist Photos with a short sentence and the hashtag #ScaredScientist. It is our generation and the younger generations that will have to deal with the massive negative consequences of global climate change, so it is important that we become advocates of our own future!
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