Yesterday I participated in the Victoria BC satellite March For Science. It was an inspiring event that brought together professional scientists and science enthusiasts in support of evidence based approaches to addressing environmental problems. I was asked to speak given my ongoing efforts to engage with the public about science and science literacy and recent shortlisting as a candidate for two open astronaut positions with the Canadian Space Agency. We are in the midst of a provincial election campaign here in British Columbia and my remarks followed those of my colleague and leader of the Green Party of BC and candidate for re-election Dr. Andrew Weaver. Andrew became the first Green Party candidate to be elected to a provincial legislature seat in Canada in 2013. He is an outspoken climate scientist and a lead author in the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th scientific assessments. He delivered a non-partisan speech about the need for scientists to engage in the political process and to serve the public by running for office.
xMore from the #Victoria#yyj#marchforscience this afternoon pic.twitter.com/cGOZhIOSvZ
— Jay T. Cullen (@JayTCullen) April 22, 2017My remarks centered on my efforts to bring scientific evidence to bear in public discussions of pressing environmental problems that are both local (marine habitat degradation and sewage treatment in British Columbia) and global (climate change and the Fukushima nuclear disaster) in reach.
Addressing the March for Science/Earth Day crowd at Centennial Square April 22, 2017.I chose to focus on some of my experiences and what I think I have learned through my interactions with the public especially on controversial issues where ideology can sometimes blind individuals and groups to evidence. For those interested here is the text that formed the basis of my speech:
I find it inspiring to be here with so many fellow scientists and science enthusiasts today. We are bringing science out from behind the laboratory bench and into the public square. What could be more appropriate and exciting that we choose to do this on Earth Day. Everyone here today recognizes the importance of the scientific method as a way of knowing about our planet and our place in it. People are gathered here today because we recognize that many of the problems we face as a species call out for technical solutions that are based on evidence and understanding rather than blind ideology and ignorance.
Like you I think improving science literacy is an important goal if we wish to have a healthy, functioning, effective democracy. Over the last number of years I have been actively engaging with the public to talk about science as well as what the scientific community has learned about a number of pressing problems affecting environmental health. Environmental problems that are both local, here in Victoria and on Vancouver Island, and problems of global significance. I wanted to share a little bit of what I think I have learned because of these science communication efforts.
I’ve learned that it is not enough to talk about what we know. That while facts matter it is not enough as scientists to simply relate facts if we want to change public perception of science and if we want our evidence used to shape public policy on controversial matters. What I would like to say to all of you science enthusiasts is that we must also engage our fellow citizens by talking about why we love science. Why science makes us all more human. Not less. I am convinced that we must reach out by sharing how using science to know more about our world makes us more human. How through science we experience the joy of discovery and a sense of awe about the beauty of our world around us.
On Earth Day we can reflect that it is science that has demonstrated our deep connection to all living organisms and that our health and the health of the planet are inseparable.
Science feeds the very human desire to explore and discover. As you may know it has been a lifelong dream of mine to become an astronaut and to go to space. One of the reasons for this I think is that space exploration brings out the best qualities in human beings. Perhaps this is because as President of the United States John F. Kennedy said it back in 1962 space exploration is hard. It focuses our talents and resources. It is a most optimistic pursuit that encourages peaceful cooperation among nations. We are gathered in solidarity today with our American cousins marching in Washington DC and it makes me think about their amazing scientific achievements…in particular the Apollo Space program. Last century the simple will to go and most importantly science allowed 22 human beings to leave our planet and to visit our moon about 380,000 km away. By most accounts leaving our planet and seeing the Earth from this great distance fundamentally changed these astronauts. It was a transformative experience. Earth is small. Earth is different. Earth is special. Earth is beautiful.
But I will say to you here today that you don’t need to go to space to learn these things. That science shows us that we can appreciate the beauty and wonder of our world equally well by looking through a microscope at a drop of ocean water teeming with life or by turning our most powerful telescopes to the sky to look at light stars that might have died billions of years ago. Or light from stars just being born. We are scientists because we are in awe of what see and want to discover more. We want to understand more. This is why we do science. Science is a pursuit that is close the heart of the human experience. So to everyone here today I say it is time to wear our science hearts on our sleeves. It is time to communicate the joy and awe and humanity we find in science to the public and not just the results and cold facts of scientific research. It may well be that broader acceptance of our work, a move to more evidence based policy and the implementation of effective solutions to our most pressing problems may result from it. Thank you for coming to show your support today and for your attention.
I hope some readers of the Daily Kos were out in support of science yesterday. What were your experiences?
xWord cloud of my #marchforscience#Victoria#EarthDay remarks today #yyj#UVicpic.twitter.com/OQMU8EQp6t
— Jay T. Cullen (@JayTCullen) April 23, 2017