The Political Climate for Science (and Skepticism) Kenneth Silber Monthly meeting of the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT) Sept. 16, 2017 Quicksilber.blogspot.com
My perspective Republican 1983-2016; RINO-turned-independent; Hillary voter Journalist covering science, politics, finance; writer/editor/fact checker Experience in both MSM and right-leaning opinion journalism Interested in sci/tech history; author of book about the Erie Canal
The political climate for Science Science journalism Skepticism
Political climate: science Source: Pew Research Center. Democrats far more supportive than Republicans of federal scientific research, 5/1/17. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/05/01/democrats-far-more-supportive-than-republicans-of-federal-spendingfor-scientific-research/ Americans Divided on Whether Recent Science Protests Will Benefit Scientists Causes, 5/11/17. http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/05/11/americans-divided-on-whether-recent-science-protests-will-benefit-scientistscauses/
Source: Gauchat, Gordon, Politicization of Science in the Public Sphere: A Study of Public Trust in the United States, 1974 to 2010. American Sociological Review 77(2), April 2012.
Source: Pew Research Center. Public Praises Science; Scientists Fault Public, Media, 7/9/2009. http://www.people-press.org/2009/07/09/public-praises-science-scientists-faultpublic-media/
Source: RushLimbaugh.com, Global Warming Scientists: We Were Wrong, 9/13/17. https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2013/09/17/ global_warming_scientists_we_were_wrong/ See also: RushLimbaugh.com, Climategate Hoax: The Universe of Lies Versus the Universe of Reality, 11/24/09. https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2009/11/24/ climategate_hoax_the_universe_of_lies_versus_the_universe_of_reality/
URL: https://twitter.com/energypresssec/status/890628847984492545?lang=en
Source: Pew Research Center. Sharp Partisan Divisions in Views of National Institutions, 7/10/2017. http://www.people-press.org/2017/07/10/sharp-partisan-divisions-in-views-ofnational-institutions/
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, Sidelining Science Since Day One, executive summary, 7/20/17. http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/07/sidelining-science-es-ucs-7-20-2017.pdf
Source: AAAS, Science Funding Holds as Congress Begins Recess: Where We Are and What s Left to Do, 8/1/17. https://www.aaas.org/news/science-funding-holds-congress-begins-recess-where-are-we-andwhats-left-do
URLs: https://www.aaas.org/page/historical-trends-federal-rd; https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/defnon;.jpg
URLs: https://www.aaas.org/page/historical-trends-federal-rd; https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/rdgdp;.jpg
Political concerns facing science Budget cuts Availability and integrity of data Reductions in federal staff and advisory expertise Ignoring scientific input into policymaking Limits on immigration/travel of scientific talent How political should scientists be in response?
Political climate: science journalism Source: Huffington Post/YouGov poll. URL: http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/tabs_hp_science_20131209.pdf Also: Americans Have Little Faith in Scientists, Science Journalists: Poll, 12/21/2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/21/faith-in-scientists_n_4481487.html
Source: Pew Research Center, Sharp Partisan Divisions in Views of National Institutions, 7/10/17. http://www.people-press.org/2017/07/10/sharp-partisan-divisions-in-views-of-national-institutions/
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/employment-trends-in-newspaper-publishing-andother-media-1990-2016.htm
Concerns facing science journalism Financial pressures (ad revenues, jobs) Maintaining standards in Internet age/fake news Hostility to media/ fake news Relationship to science community Distinction from public relations How political to be?
Political climate: skepticism Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016). Paranormal Beliefs. https://blogs.chapman.edu/wilkinson/2016/10/11/paranormal-beliefs/
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016). https://blogs.chapman.edu/press-room/2016/10/11/what-do-americans-fear-most-chapmanuniversitys-third-annual-survey-of-american-fears-released/
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 1 (2014); Washington Post, Study: Americans are as likely to believe in bigfoot as in the big bang theory, 10/24/14. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/24/study-democrats-are-more-likely-thanrepublicans-to-believe-in-fortune-telling-astrology-and-ghosts/?utm_term=.7f4f8300514c
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016).
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016).
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016).
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016).
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016).
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016).
Source: Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 3 (2016).
Concerns facing skepticism Persistence of pseudoscience, irrationality more broadly Dependent on health of science and science journalism Pseudo-skepticism attempts to deny facts, evidence, science; under guise of practicing skepticism Questions about the breadth of the mission, particularly How focused on (skepticism of) religion? How political to be?
Looking back and ahead Science is ingrained in U.S. history; from Ben Franklin, DeWitt Clinton onward Retains formidable resources, prestige But current political antipathy from governing party has little precedent
Looking back and ahead How political should scientists, science journalists, skeptics be? Answers will vary among individuals and organizations, but Very likely, more political than in the past; neutrality/ aloofness will be hard to maintain New issues will arise; near-future hot buttons may include AI and genetic manipulation U.S. science leadership at stake; China rising