Just Look Up! The Disastrous Comet of Politicizing Science

Scientific politicization occurs when organizations or politicians use their influence to discredit scientific studies for their benefit. These are when distributors of information obstruct the evidence, such as using a statement like “we don’t know what’s going to happen” instead of “this is most likely what’s going to happen based on the scientific evidence.” This phenomenon relies entirely on the people's lack of consensus, further creating a divide in the public against one another 

There are many methods in politicizing science, such as altering the subject, ignoring facts, and even capitalizing on skepticism. These are used to persuade the public to believe in views already discredited and disproven by the scientific community. 

These strategies have been used in discussions of climate change, sexual orientation, and even women's rights. It is undoubtedly more common than people may think, as dozens and dozens of cases can be found online.

This manipulation of information can damage the world we live in and prove to be fatal to massive groups of society. One of the most timely cases of scientific politicization is the United States' initial response to the coronavirus pandemic. In a report made by Sarah Owermohle (2020), there was a cause for distress when two leading scientific organizations had expressed concern about "alarming" political interference in the work of scientists and public health professionals working on the government's COVID-19 response. 

Furthermore, the Presidents of the National Academies of Sciences and Medicine issued a statement expressing concern about political intervention during a pandemic, “particularly the overriding of evidence and advice from public health officials and derision of government scientists.”

Here, we can see how scientific politicization affects the integrity of the scientific community.

So how can we, as students, combat scientific politicization?

The first step to battling scientific politicization is to be aware of it. Acknowledging and enhancing our media and information literacy skills are the best defense in disputing incorrect claims made by elected officials. The second step we can take is to fact-check the theories and claims we see on the media. By reading peer-reviewed papers made by credible scientists, we can discern the factual from the fabricated. The third step we can take, as citizens and contributors to society, is to vote. Then, if we are unable to vote, we must educate those who are able to. We, as citizens, need to elect better politicians - officials who will uphold these values. 

Albeit a life-threatening climate catastrophe, a global pandemic, issues of grossly abused systems, or even a giant comet coming straight for Earth, we must be the champions and advocates for science. 

In all circumstances, we must realize that science must remain objective; it must be open, transparent, and accessible to all. We must ensure that the research is free from prejudices or biases -  that personal opinion must not disparage academic evidence. Further, science must be a welcoming and open environment for anybody capable and qualified.

Humankind loses when the debate becomes too political rather than scientific. A fair balance must be stricken between politics and science.