Over the last few days, I've had a lot of conversations with scientists about what scientists can do to help change the way that the American public views science. The phrase, "what can I do?" has come up more than once in these conversations, but every time it has I've discovered that I was actually being asked a slightly different question: "what can I do that won't take up much time or cause me much inconvenience."
It's a frustrating question, but a fair one. Scientists, like most other academics, tend to be overworked and underpaid - particularly in the university setting. Most of the professors on our faculty put in far more than the forty hours a week that they get paid for, and the same holds true for the grad students. Time is not a resource that scientists have an excess of, so if a scientist is going to spend time doing something that helps with the public understanding of science, he or she is going to have to take that time from something else - like research, or family, or sleep.
Unfortunately, there are many answers to "what can I do," but very few answers to "what can I do that won't take up time or inconvenience me." Trying to alter the public's perception of science will
always take up at least some time.
But it is time that desperately needs to be spent.
There is an old joke about the drunk looking for something on the sidewalk. He's on his hands and knees under the streetlight, when a bystander stops and asks him what he's doing. "I'm looking for my keys - I tripped and dropped them when I left the bar." The bystander looks around and says, "The bar's across the street. Why aren't you looking there?" Our drunk replies, "because the light is better here."
It's a really bad joke, but it's a really good analogy for the situation that most of us find ourselves in as we try to get the public more interested in science - we're the keys. We're talking to the public over here in front of the bar, but they're over by the streetlight, looking at something else entirely. Unless more of us take the time to learn how to talk about science in a way that will interest more people, that's the way things are going to stay.
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Which is why there are philosophers, who have oodles of time on their hands...
Hi
QA's mom here.
I'm a community organizer. I get paid (not much - but paid) to help people who feel powerless change their communities for the better. I've worked in the very tough communities of the South Bronx back when it was Fort Apache. I know how much you can change how people think and more importantly how relatively easy it is to make change happen.
In talking with Mike and reading the blogs, I see your community facing barriers to the process that need to be overcome if you want to change people's opinions. All a barrier means is that you need to find a way around it.
As an organizer, I have heard every argument in the book about why you can't do something.
And then I've watched those "impossible" goals be reached.
Let me give you some of my "truths".
1. Start where you are. It is your job regardless of time or energy to take responsibility for reaching at very least the people around you -- think family and friends to start. Don't assume they don't care -- in fact don't assume. And remember that most peole are not inter-net savvy. Virtual organizing is a tool, not a strategy.
2. The best way to change people's minds is through self-interest -- the problem being that most people don't think long term. (In government - that means after the next election.) Show people why they need to change they're thinking in concrete terms.
3. Think strategically. Think outside the box. Identify potential resources and figure out how to make them work in the situation. That may mean making allies of people you don't like. I was able to get inner city community people and cops to work together on specific campaigns. They never liked each other, and never fully trusted each other, but they were able to work together when they could identify common ground.
4. Don't make enemies unecessarily. Don't bait people. Did you ever change your mind because someone told you that you were stupid? You don't need people sabotaging your work because you pissed them off.
5. Work from consensus wherever possible. At the same time don't be afraid to make enemies. Just don't let them define what you're doing or sidetrack your work.
5. Break the problem into pieces -- its never really a monolith. Celebrate your victories - no matter how small.
6. Have fun.
I usually do.
I keep two quotes over my desk.
"Always hold frim to the thought that wach one of us can do something to bring some portion of misery to an end" (anon)
" The hottest places in hell are reservedd for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." (dante)
One way to improve the public image of science is to make science teaching a much more respected profession. A great many scientists today got into it because of a good teacher.
And also we need to train scientists in how to teach what they know to others. The majority of researchers I have met have no pedagogical training, and just because you know something is no guarantee that you can teach it.
Bringing Carl Sagan back from the dead wouldn't hurt either...