Scientist says role of science is changing
Jonathan McDowell told Earth & Sky, The day when you could lock yourself away in an ivory tower and go, "Well I'm going to work on this, and I'm going to not talk to anyone else about it. Those days are over."
Photo: S. Baker
The role of science in our culture is changing.
That’s according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Jonathan McDowell: The day when you could lock yourself away in an ivory tower and go, “Well I’m going to work on this, and I’m going to not talk to anyone else about it. I’ll just publish in an obscure journal. “ Those days are over, and I think it’s great that those days are over.
McDowell investigates black holes, dark matter and extreme physics. He also writes a column for a popular astronomy magazine.
Jonathan McDowell: The kids I knew in college who were the worst science geeks, who never did anything else or had no other interests, weren’t the ones who stayed in the field in the long term. In fact, it was the ones who were a little broader than that and became broader as they got older.
McDowell said science is moving away from the stereotype of men in lab coats. He said the new generation of scientists is an imaginative and creative class of people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Jonathan McDowell: If you go into science you have to have that spirit of inquiry. You have to question things.
McDowell also said, “So just as you would question how does the world work and what would happen if we changed this about science, that same personality leads you to say, why should I cut my hair or why should I wear a tie?”
As a case in point, McDowell is a member of the Luxuriant Hair Club for Scientists.
Our thanks to:
Jonathan McDowell
Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Cambridge, MA
Re: Scientist Say Role of Science is Changing
In his book, “See how quickly they’ll agree all space bodies orbit the earth, when you threaten to cut their budgets!” Republican lawmaker Abraham Simmons-Geebilson argues that indeed the “role” of science is changing and mostly, it is changing for the good (i.e., in support of Republican stances regarding Evolution, etc.) In support of this assertion is Asgood Schlopesis, a bio-chemist from Wisconsin, who argues that “…sure the universe is big but God is even bigger and He does not even have to worry about cholesterol!” Asgood reportedly received 98% of allocated science research funds, from the State of Wisconsin, for the FY 2006 and is also a strong candidate to receive next years funding as well, in support of his most recent research thesis: “Fossil’s and how God put them there to test our faith.” Lone dissenter Jane Umahlse, (University of Wisconsin at Simmons) who questioned Schlopesis’ assertions, could not be contacted as she has just began her mandatory eight year Deep Polar Region Study program with no outside contact until the end of the program. The program was instituted by the Republican lawmakers of Wisconsin Society.
In Utah, Anthony Woolwearer, a PhD candidate from Salt Lake City University, recently published a work titled: “Global warming, molobal warming, it’s all war against the faithful by the godless liberal intellectuals” which earned him the George W. Bush, Great Intellects Award (2006-2007)
Ach, all jokes aside… I think it is a “good” thing that more and more scientist choose to be “hip” and “fashionably aware.” Now if we can just keep ‘em from inventing exotic and destructive weapons!
Mustapha
SCIENCE ITSELF DOES NOT CHANGE, NOR DOES THE ROLE OF SCIENTISTS:
Of all things, scientists cannot be found ignoring good science. Of all people, scientists cannot be found catering to that which is not more than economically expedient and politically convenient. To do so would amount to little else than pandering to the habits of conspicuous consumption and the celebrity culture fostered by the self-proclaimed masters of the universe among us.
The unwillingness of scientists to see, to hear and to speak of good scientific evidence is an incomprehensible omission of incalculable import for the future of life and the maintenance of the integrity of Earth.
Science enjoins scientists to discharge their duties to it and not capitulate to the powerbrokers of the global political economy, does it not? According to the best available scientific evidence, whatsoever is is, is it not? If people everywhere are to see and hear what God’s gift of science provides us about how the world we inhabit works as well as about a more adequate placement of humankind within the natural order of living things, then I suppose scientists will have to speak out often and more clearly, so that the daunting global challenges potentially posed to humanity by the unbridled growth of the human species and human enterprise in Century XXI are acknowledged, addressed and overcome.
On the other hand, silence from scientists in response to the apparently unforeseen, new science of human population dynamics and absolute global human population numbers could soon result in humankind inadvertently laying waste to that which many too many leaders in my not-so-great generation of elders vociferously claim to be protecting, sustaining and preserving.
Sincerely,
Steve
I hope the role of science in our culture is changing. At present, many people seem to be rejecting, even scorning, anyone who is an “expert.” I hope people come to see that science is an expression of some of the best of our culture. It’s an expression of our human curiosity, our human ability to collect evidence in an impartial way over many years, plus our ability to conduct logical analyses leading to sound conclusions that can help all of us survive and prosper in the world.
Scientists do those tasks for all of us. That’s one reason they’re paid with tax dollars.
As for the role of scientists themselves … I hope that scientists will continue to come out of the “ivory tower” they occupied when I first became a science writer in the 1970s. They need to be speaking loudly and clearly to all of us about their findings concerning the nature world. That’s their job, after all. They do that job for us. Otherwise … they’re just talking to themselves.
Earth & Sky is proud to work with many wonderful scientists, who try hard to help out. By contributing to our internationally syndicated radio show and website, Earth & Sky’s Science Advisors – plus the scientists we interview on our show – are helping to do to the very important public aspect of the job of science in a powerful and effective way …
(loud cheering and applause here)
Deborah
Hi Deborah,
Of course, I agree.
As I see it, “process” of science is one that is evolving and continuously changing. My point above hopes to indicate that science itself provides us with knowledge of whatsoever is associated with what we can recognize as somehow real. In this sense, the gift of science simply is.
Also, within the general evolutionary process of science, the roles of scientists do change, as you and Dr. Jonathan McDowell have noted. Even so, the uncomplicated dedication of scientists to science itself is something I see as unchanging through time.
Always, with thanks,
Steve