Our Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized?
Much has changed in the two decades since I (JL) proposed that scientists should re-examine their obligations to society in order to serve society better. Today, more environmental scientists are actively sharing their science broadly, conducting use-inspired science ( sensu Stokes) in addition to b...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abba9c |
| _version_ | 1797747735804248064 |
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| author | Jane Lubchenco Chris Rapley |
| author_facet | Jane Lubchenco Chris Rapley |
| author_sort | Jane Lubchenco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Much has changed in the two decades since I (JL) proposed that scientists should re-examine their obligations to society in order to serve society better. Today, more environmental scientists are actively sharing their science broadly, conducting use-inspired science ( sensu Stokes) in addition to basic science, engaging with society, and crafting solutions to problems not just diagnosing them—all very welcome and exciting developments. For the most part, however, environmental scientists have taken on these extra duties because they believed it was the right thing to do and despite the considerable impediments that exist within academia. But make no mistake, the culture of academia continues to impede progress. As a result, although the above actions have had demonstrable effect, their collective impact falls far short of what is needed if society is to tackle effectively the disruption underway due to climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, pandemics, and more. Actions by individuals can take us only so far. To truly help society meet its grand challenges, environmental scientists must now make a quantum leap in engagement with society. It is time for strategic, collective action to change the culture of academia and create the enabling conditions for science to serve society better. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:55:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ed68fbafd914a65b2b25cbf68d45f7c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:55:52Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ed68fbafd914a65b2b25cbf68d45f7c2023-08-09T14:56:07ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262020-01-01151111020110.1088/1748-9326/abba9cOur Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized?Jane Lubchenco0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3540-5879Chris Rapley1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2858-3661Oregon State University , Corvallis, United States of AmericaUniversity College London , United KingdomMuch has changed in the two decades since I (JL) proposed that scientists should re-examine their obligations to society in order to serve society better. Today, more environmental scientists are actively sharing their science broadly, conducting use-inspired science ( sensu Stokes) in addition to basic science, engaging with society, and crafting solutions to problems not just diagnosing them—all very welcome and exciting developments. For the most part, however, environmental scientists have taken on these extra duties because they believed it was the right thing to do and despite the considerable impediments that exist within academia. But make no mistake, the culture of academia continues to impede progress. As a result, although the above actions have had demonstrable effect, their collective impact falls far short of what is needed if society is to tackle effectively the disruption underway due to climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, pandemics, and more. Actions by individuals can take us only so far. To truly help society meet its grand challenges, environmental scientists must now make a quantum leap in engagement with society. It is time for strategic, collective action to change the culture of academia and create the enabling conditions for science to serve society better.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abba9csocial contract for scienceclimate changeuse-inspired science |
| spellingShingle | Jane Lubchenco Chris Rapley Our Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized? Environmental Research Letters social contract for science climate change use-inspired science |
| title | Our Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized? |
| title_full | Our Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized? |
| title_fullStr | Our Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Our Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized? |
| title_short | Our Moment of Truth: The Social Contract Realized? |
| title_sort | our moment of truth the social contract realized |
| topic | social contract for science climate change use-inspired science |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abba9c |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janelubchenco ourmomentoftruththesocialcontractrealized AT chrisrapley ourmomentoftruththesocialcontractrealized |