The Role Of Science In The Trump Era
Only science based on rigorous, peer-reviewed research designed with full freedom of inquiry will work.
Science is our most powerful tool to build
on the legacy of these laws and craft public
policy to slow and mitigate climate change.
A warming global climate is leading to
unprecedented human health and
environmental threats, such as extinction
over the next 100 years of up to 50 percent
of species currently living on our planet.
The only way to fully address these threats
is by allowing scientists to conduct research
effectively and transparently.
on the legacy of these laws and craft public
policy to slow and mitigate climate change.
A warming global climate is leading to
unprecedented human health and
environmental threats, such as extinction
over the next 100 years of up to 50 percent
of species currently living on our planet.
The only way to fully address these threats
is by allowing scientists to conduct research
effectively and transparently.
Throughout his campaign, Trump sought
support by appealing to popular desires
and prejudices rather than by using rational
argument. Trump’s agenda to “make
America great” includes slashing funding
for science and universities, adopting a
formal platform of climate-change denial,
intensifying natural resources exploitation,
weakening environmental laws, and
reducing all kinds of diversity. Pundits
point out that Trump’s atavistic
demagoguery in assembling his cabinet
creates a strategic assault on science.
To that end, some of his nominees’
regressionary personal philosophies
push the boundaries of legitimacy
and directly counter the missions of
the agencies they will be leading.
support by appealing to popular desires
and prejudices rather than by using rational
argument. Trump’s agenda to “make
America great” includes slashing funding
for science and universities, adopting a
formal platform of climate-change denial,
intensifying natural resources exploitation,
weakening environmental laws, and
reducing all kinds of diversity. Pundits
point out that Trump’s atavistic
demagoguery in assembling his cabinet
creates a strategic assault on science.
To that end, some of his nominees’
regressionary personal philosophies
push the boundaries of legitimacy
and directly counter the missions of
the agencies they will be leading.
A tour of Trump’s challenges to science
begins with his selection of Oklahoma
Attorney General Scott Pruitt as the head
of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A party to at least 13 lawsuits attacking the
Clean Air and Clean Water Acts who refers
to himself on his website as the “leading
advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda,”
Pruitt is hardly supportive of natural resources
policy checks and balance.
begins with his selection of Oklahoma
Attorney General Scott Pruitt as the head
of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A party to at least 13 lawsuits attacking the
Clean Air and Clean Water Acts who refers
to himself on his website as the “leading
advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda,”
Pruitt is hardly supportive of natural resources
policy checks and balance.
Trump’s top nominee for Secretary of Energy, former
Texas governor Rick Perry, lacks the academic background
to enable him to understand the essential role of science
in maintaining US nuclear security. In sharp contrast to his
predecessors, who were PhD physicists, he holds a
bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. Yet he will take
the lead in deciding how we manage our nuclear arsenal.
Additionally, the Trump Transition Team’s intrusive
questioning of Department of Energy scientists and
contractors creates an ominous environment where
it’s unsafe for scientists to use the term “climate change.”
Texas governor Rick Perry, lacks the academic background
to enable him to understand the essential role of science
in maintaining US nuclear security. In sharp contrast to his
predecessors, who were PhD physicists, he holds a
bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. Yet he will take
the lead in deciding how we manage our nuclear arsenal.
Additionally, the Trump Transition Team’s intrusive
questioning of Department of Energy scientists and
contractors creates an ominous environment where
it’s unsafe for scientists to use the term “climate change.”
Secretary of State nominee Exxon chief executive Rex
W. Tillerson has a background in engineering and close
ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The billion-
dollar Russian energy contracts brokered by Tillerson
engender a huge conflict of interest. He’s persistently
dismissed the severity of climate change, yet will be
our top government official negotiating our
engagement in international climate-change policies,
such as the Paris Agreement.
W. Tillerson has a background in engineering and close
ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The billion-
dollar Russian energy contracts brokered by Tillerson
engender a huge conflict of interest. He’s persistently
dismissed the severity of climate change, yet will be
our top government official negotiating our
engagement in international climate-change policies,
such as the Paris Agreement.
In a field populated by serious contenders like Sarah
Palin, Trump’s selection of Representative Ryan
Zinke (R-MT) as Secretary of the Interior offers
some hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. While
supporting US energy independence, Zinke
acknowledges that climate change must be addressed.
He brings to the presidential cabinet a centrist,
Roosevelt-inspired conservation philosophy.
A pragmatist who favors sustainable natural
resources extraction, he also supports Native
American water rights and keeping federal lands intact.
Palin, Trump’s selection of Representative Ryan
Zinke (R-MT) as Secretary of the Interior offers
some hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. While
supporting US energy independence, Zinke
acknowledges that climate change must be addressed.
He brings to the presidential cabinet a centrist,
Roosevelt-inspired conservation philosophy.
A pragmatist who favors sustainable natural
resources extraction, he also supports Native
American water rights and keeping federal lands intact.
Why does science matter so much in the Trump
era? What is at stake? Put simply, according to
ecologist Paul Ehrlich, our survival as a species
is on the line. He calls out escalating indicators
of global collapse such as climate disruption,
environmental toxicity, the extinction crisis,
soil destruction, famine, and pandemic outbreaks.
Ignoring these signals is tantamount to driving
civilization toward collapse. Supporting sound
science will help us find solutions.
era? What is at stake? Put simply, according to
ecologist Paul Ehrlich, our survival as a species
is on the line. He calls out escalating indicators
of global collapse such as climate disruption,
environmental toxicity, the extinction crisis,
soil destruction, famine, and pandemic outbreaks.
Ignoring these signals is tantamount to driving
civilization toward collapse. Supporting sound
science will help us find solutions.
Science provides our best hope for the future of
life on Earth. Indeed, since Aristotle’s time,
leaders have seen science as the sharpest weapon
any civilization can wield to improve their
survival. But today, only science based on
rigorous, peer-reviewed research designed
with full freedom of inquiry will work.
Linked to our constitutionally mandated
freedom of speech, our freedom to do
science is part of what truly makes America great.
life on Earth. Indeed, since Aristotle’s time,
leaders have seen science as the sharpest weapon
any civilization can wield to improve their
survival. But today, only science based on
rigorous, peer-reviewed research designed
with full freedom of inquiry will work.
Linked to our constitutionally mandated
freedom of speech, our freedom to do
science is part of what truly makes America great.
Even the most conservative global science
organizations are so troubled by the many
challenges Trump brings to scientific integrity
that they’ve been speaking out. Some have
been urging the scientific community to be
more vocal and frank about scientific issues.
For example, recently more than 2,300 scientists
(including 22 Nobel Peace Prize laureates)
wrote and signed an open letter to
president-elect Trump.
organizations are so troubled by the many
challenges Trump brings to scientific integrity
that they’ve been speaking out. Some have
been urging the scientific community to be
more vocal and frank about scientific issues.
For example, recently more than 2,300 scientists
(including 22 Nobel Peace Prize laureates)
wrote and signed an open letter to
president-elect Trump.
Beyond the scientific community, non-scientists
can do even more to help defend science. As
members of a democratic society, we can ask
Congress to maintain freedom of scientific
inquiry and diversity in science. Specifically,
we can comment publicly on and vote to
support environmental laws. We can urge
the president to hire a national science
advisor as well as other scientists with
appropriate credentials in ecology,
physics, and engineering to fill key
posts in his administration.
can do even more to help defend science. As
members of a democratic society, we can ask
Congress to maintain freedom of scientific
inquiry and diversity in science. Specifically,
we can comment publicly on and vote to
support environmental laws. We can urge
the president to hire a national science
advisor as well as other scientists with
appropriate credentials in ecology,
physics, and engineering to fill key
posts in his administration.
We can become more directly involved
by actually participating in science. A
variety of organizations enable scientific
public engagement (called citizen science)
such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
the National Audubon Society, and
Earthwatch Institute.
by actually participating in science. A
variety of organizations enable scientific
public engagement (called citizen science)
such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
the National Audubon Society, and
Earthwatch Institute.
Whether you are a scientist or a non-
scientist, all of these strategies are about
defending science and putting it into action.
Now more than ever, science is our best
hope for the future. And now more than
ever, science needs you.
scientist, all of these strategies are about
defending science and putting it into action.
Now more than ever, science is our best
hope for the future. And now more than
ever, science needs you.
* * *
Learn more about carnivore conservation
by reading The Carnivore Way:
Coexisting with and Conserving
North America’s Predators, and The Wolf’s
Tooth: Keystone Predators, Trophic Cascades,
and Biodiversity by Dr. Cristina Eisenberg.
Learn more about large carnivore ecology
by joining Cristina afield on her Earthwatch
research expedition, Restoring Fire, Wolves,
and Bison to the Canadian Rockies.
by reading The Carnivore Way:
Coexisting with and Conserving
North America’s Predators, and The Wolf’s
Tooth: Keystone Predators, Trophic Cascades,
and Biodiversity by Dr. Cristina Eisenberg.
Learn more about large carnivore ecology
by joining Cristina afield on her Earthwatch
research expedition, Restoring Fire, Wolves,
and Bison to the Canadian Rockies.
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