the goal of my eighth-grade science-fair project was to solve global warming
project was to solve global warming
project was to solve global warming using two aquariums water and some saran
using two aquariums water and some saran
using two aquariums water and some saran wrap looking back now I can safely say
wrap looking back now I can safely say
wrap looking back now I can safely say that my research design was flawed from
that my research design was flawed from
that my research design was flawed from the outset and the honorable mention I
the outset and the honorable mention I
the outset and the honorable mention I received was generous at best but that
received was generous at best but that
received was generous at best but that curiosity and interest in using the
curiosity and interest in using the
curiosity and interest in using the potential of science to benefit our
potential of science to benefit our
potential of science to benefit our world has remained a thread between that
world has remained a thread between that
world has remained a thread between that eighth grade fair and today as an
eighth grade fair and today as an
eighth grade fair and today as an archaeologist and a researcher who
archaeologist and a researcher who
archaeologist and a researcher who contributes studies into human
contributes studies into human
contributes studies into human environment interactions over long
environment interactions over long
environment interactions over long periods of time and what my work has
periods of time and what my work has
periods of time and what my work has taught me is that having scientific
taught me is that having scientific
taught me is that having scientific evidence isn’t enough to solve our
evidence isn’t enough to solve our
evidence isn’t enough to solve our problems like democracy science isn’t a
problems like democracy science isn’t a
problems like democracy science isn’t a spectator sport now a study last year
spectator sport now a study last year
spectator sport now a study last year from science counts showed that an
from science counts showed that an
from science counts showed that an overwhelming majority of Americans
overwhelming majority of Americans
overwhelming majority of Americans associate science with discovery and
associate science with discovery and
associate science with discovery and hope but there’s also this disconnect
hope but there’s also this disconnect
hope but there’s also this disconnect that exists between that positive
that exists between that positive
that exists between that positive perception and science feeling relevant
perception and science feeling relevant
perception and science feeling relevant in our lives because it said that most
in our lives because it said that most
in our lives because it said that most people would cut science funding first
people would cut science funding first
people would cut science funding first when there’s a budget crisis and I see
when there’s a budget crisis and I see
when there’s a budget crisis and I see this phenomenon playing out in some
this phenomenon playing out in some
this phenomenon playing out in some conversations where science is treated
conversations where science is treated
conversations where science is treated as distinct parts where people separate
as distinct parts where people separate
as distinct parts where people separate science as process from science as
science as process from science as
science as process from science as practice
practice
practice so imagine process as your cookbook and
so imagine process as your cookbook and
so imagine process as your cookbook and practice is making the recipe and
practice is making the recipe and
practice is making the recipe and serving the food and everybody wants a
serving the food and everybody wants a
serving the food and everybody wants a good dinner if our goal is to serve as
good dinner if our goal is to serve as
good dinner if our goal is to serve as many people as possible with a meal that
many people as possible with a meal that
many people as possible with a meal that nourishes them we would be asking
nourishes them we would be asking
nourishes them we would be asking ourselves questions like what recipes
ourselves questions like what recipes
ourselves questions like what recipes are appropriate what ingredients do we
are appropriate what ingredients do we
are appropriate what ingredients do we need who is doing the cooking how is it
need who is doing the cooking how is it
need who is doing the cooking how is it being served and as my grandmother would
being served and as my grandmother would
being served and as my grandmother would often exclaim is there enough food
often exclaim is there enough food
often exclaim is there enough food who hasn’t eaten so when we treat
who hasn’t eaten so when we treat
who hasn’t eaten so when we treat science and approach it as these
science and approach it as these
science and approach it as these distinct parts we limit its potential to
distinct parts we limit its potential to
distinct parts we limit its potential to serve more people in our communities
serve more people in our communities
serve more people in our communities better so I’m gonna burst some bubbles
better so I’m gonna burst some bubbles
better so I’m gonna burst some bubbles here
here
here this means that science is political
this means that science is political
this means that science is political because we don’t create it in a vacuum
because we don’t create it in a vacuum
because we don’t create it in a vacuum or pluck it out of thin air divorce from
or pluck it out of thin air divorce from
or pluck it out of thin air divorce from our social and political structures how
our social and political structures how
our social and political structures how we the people choose to wield science is
we the people choose to wield science is
we the people choose to wield science is like with any tool that can be used to
like with any tool that can be used to
like with any tool that can be used to destroy or build harm or heal us and
destroy or build harm or heal us and
destroy or build harm or heal us and political decisions about science
political decisions about science
political decisions about science education funding and policies affect
education funding and policies affect
education funding and policies affect all of us at every scale from the local
all of us at every scale from the local
all of us at every scale from the local to the global
to the global
to the global so in my profession I am trained to
so in my profession I am trained to
so in my profession I am trained to examine patterns in the past so I’d like
examine patterns in the past so I’d like
examine patterns in the past so I’d like to share a historical example that has
to share a historical example that has
to share a historical example that has direct modern parallels in London in the
direct modern parallels in London in the
direct modern parallels in London in the 1800’s industrialization and high rates
1800’s industrialization and high rates
1800’s industrialization and high rates of urban growth accessor baited
of urban growth accessor baited
of urban growth accessor baited unsanitary living conditions with
unsanitary living conditions with
unsanitary living conditions with overcrowding and a deplorable sewage
overcrowding and a deplorable sewage
overcrowding and a deplorable sewage system waste often flowed into untreated
system waste often flowed into untreated
system waste often flowed into untreated drinking water meanwhile cholera
drinking water meanwhile cholera
drinking water meanwhile cholera epidemics were devastating entire
epidemics were devastating entire
epidemics were devastating entire neighborhoods in the mere span of days
neighborhoods in the mere span of days
neighborhoods in the mere span of days and public mistrust in the medical
and public mistrust in the medical
and public mistrust in the medical profession reached such a pitch that
profession reached such a pitch that
profession reached such a pitch that cholera riots broke out so the social
cholera riots broke out so the social
cholera riots broke out so the social and political climates were incredibly
and political climates were incredibly
and political climates were incredibly tense and a lot of people were weighing
tense and a lot of people were weighing
tense and a lot of people were weighing in about what was happening but nobody
in about what was happening but nobody
in about what was happening but nobody really knew what to do or how to fix it
really knew what to do or how to fix it
really knew what to do or how to fix it so at the time the most respectable
so at the time the most respectable
so at the time the most respectable theory on the cause of Cholera explained
theory on the cause of Cholera explained
theory on the cause of Cholera explained that it was due to my asthma’s or
that it was due to my asthma’s or
that it was due to my asthma’s or poisonous gases and a doctor named John
poisonous gases and a doctor named John
poisonous gases and a doctor named John Snow who’s now heralded as a founder of
Snow who’s now heralded as a founder of
Snow who’s now heralded as a founder of modern epidemiology went against the
modern epidemiology went against the
modern epidemiology went against the social political and professional grain
social political and professional grain
social political and professional grain by making a scientific case that cholera
by making a scientific case that cholera
by making a scientific case that cholera wasn’t transmitted by bad air but rather
wasn’t transmitted by bad air but rather
wasn’t transmitted by bad air but rather from living organisms and contaminated
from living organisms and contaminated
from living organisms and contaminated food or water now he first developed
food or water now he first developed
food or water now he first developed this hypothesis after examining sick
this hypothesis after examining sick
this hypothesis after examining sick patients in an outbreak that happened
patients in an outbreak that happened
patients in an outbreak that happened in 1848 and in the course of those
in 1848 and in the course of those
in 1848 and in the course of those investigations he incriminated to London
investigations he incriminated to London
investigations he incriminated to London companies with servicing their clients
companies with servicing their clients
companies with servicing their clients with polluted river water and one of
with polluted river water and one of
with polluted river water and one of them actually did end up switching their
them actually did end up switching their
them actually did end up switching their source water and started filtering it
source water and started filtering it
source water and started filtering it about a year later snow also
about a year later snow also
about a year later snow also self-published
self-published
self-published a 39 page pamphlet describing his
a 39 page pamphlet describing his
a 39 page pamphlet describing his evidence and reasoning in which he even
evidence and reasoning in which he even
evidence and reasoning in which he even engaged in some language acrobatics to
engaged in some language acrobatics to
engaged in some language acrobatics to avoid certain trigger words like germs
avoid certain trigger words like germs
avoid certain trigger words like germs because germ theory was so unpopular at
because germ theory was so unpopular at
because germ theory was so unpopular at the time well unfortunately a lot of
the time well unfortunately a lot of
the time well unfortunately a lot of people didn’t buy the book but he
people didn’t buy the book but he
people didn’t buy the book but he persisted he started giving public
persisted he started giving public
persisted he started giving public lectures and he continued to hone his
lectures and he continued to hone his
lectures and he continued to hone his hypothesis over several years so then
hypothesis over several years so then
hypothesis over several years so then when another outbreak erupted in 1854
when another outbreak erupted in 1854
when another outbreak erupted in 1854 snow went and systematically and with
snow went and systematically and with
snow went and systematically and with painstaking detail collected data on
painstaking detail collected data on
painstaking detail collected data on hundreds of deaths a great personal risk
hundreds of deaths a great personal risk
hundreds of deaths a great personal risk to his own health using simple tools of
to his own health using simple tools of
to his own health using simple tools of science he accumulated undeniable
science he accumulated undeniable
science he accumulated undeniable evidence to not only support his
evidence to not only support his
evidence to not only support his hypothesis but also to identify the
hypothesis but also to identify the
hypothesis but also to identify the proximate cause as coming from one
proximate cause as coming from one
proximate cause as coming from one public water well on Broad Street now he
public water well on Broad Street now he
public water well on Broad Street now he could have stopped there if he wanted he
could have stopped there if he wanted he
could have stopped there if he wanted he could have kicked back and thought given
could have kicked back and thought given
could have kicked back and thought given enough time and on the strength of my
enough time and on the strength of my
enough time and on the strength of my evidence
evidence
evidence surely other people would reach the same
surely other people would reach the same
surely other people would reach the same conclusions but science has another role
conclusions but science has another role
conclusions but science has another role to play besides generating knowledge
to play besides generating knowledge
to play besides generating knowledge science in practice can serve as a
science in practice can serve as a
science in practice can serve as a sentinel to sound an alarm to threats in
sentinel to sound an alarm to threats in
sentinel to sound an alarm to threats in our communities so Snowe convinced
our communities so Snowe convinced
our communities so Snowe convinced skeptical officials to turn off the pump
skeptical officials to turn off the pump
skeptical officials to turn off the pump and then when they investigated that
and then when they investigated that
and then when they investigated that well later they discovered that there
well later they discovered that there
well later they discovered that there was this nearby unrecorded cesspit that
was this nearby unrecorded cesspit that
was this nearby unrecorded cesspit that had been leaking into it vindicating his
had been leaking into it vindicating his
had been leaking into it vindicating his argument well that seems like a happy
argument well that seems like a happy
argument well that seems like a happy ending snow left a legacy in the field
ending snow left a legacy in the field
ending snow left a legacy in the field of Epidemiology and in the science of
of Epidemiology and in the science of
of Epidemiology and in the science of Public Health and he serves as an
Public Health and he serves as an
Public Health and he serves as an example of science marrying process and
example of science marrying process and
example of science marrying process and practice to better meet its potential
practice to better meet its potential
practice to better meet its potential but I want to say one more thing on it
but I want to say one more thing on it
but I want to say one more thing on it it took a really long time for his idea
it took a really long time for his idea
it took a really long time for his idea to be accepted even when other
to be accepted even when other
to be accepted even when other scientists discovered the organism that
scientists discovered the organism that
scientists discovered the organism that causes cholera the social and political
causes cholera the social and political
causes cholera the social and political climates continue to resist that science
climates continue to resist that science
climates continue to resist that science can never have all the answers all at
can never have all the answers all at
can never have all the answers all at once with 100% certainty has been a
once with 100% certainty has been a
once with 100% certainty has been a blunt and well-worn weapon used against
blunt and well-worn weapon used against
blunt and well-worn weapon used against it by people in the past and today
it by people in the past and today
it by people in the past and today science isn’t handcuffed to labs or
science isn’t handcuffed to labs or
science isn’t handcuffed to labs or ivory towers or offices the methods of
ivory towers or offices the methods of
ivory towers or offices the methods of science belong to everyone and while
science belong to everyone and while
science belong to everyone and while only some are in positions to determine
only some are in positions to determine
only some are in positions to determine whether and how science is
whether and how science is
whether and how science is institutionally practiced and applied
institutionally practiced and applied
institutionally practiced and applied the consequences of those decisions are
the consequences of those decisions are
the consequences of those decisions are shared by all of us in our communities
shared by all of us in our communities
shared by all of us in our communities today our human population exceeds seven
today our human population exceeds seven
today our human population exceeds seven and a half billion and is forecast to
and a half billion and is forecast to
and a half billion and is forecast to reach almost 10 billion in 2050 global
reach almost 10 billion in 2050 global
reach almost 10 billion in 2050 global connectivity and the ways in which we
connectivity and the ways in which we
connectivity and the ways in which we are interdependent keep increasing so
are interdependent keep increasing so
are interdependent keep increasing so the world is being made both bigger and
the world is being made both bigger and
the world is being made both bigger and smaller tantalizing us with the promise
smaller tantalizing us with the promise
smaller tantalizing us with the promise of greater human collaboration while
of greater human collaboration while
of greater human collaboration while giving rise to the potential for
giving rise to the potential for
giving rise to the potential for conflicts and ideological confrontations
conflicts and ideological confrontations
conflicts and ideological confrontations this could be both exhilarating and
this could be both exhilarating and
this could be both exhilarating and frightening but it doesn’t need to be
frightening but it doesn’t need to be
frightening but it doesn’t need to be paralyzing science gives us our best
paralyzing science gives us our best
paralyzing science gives us our best guide to reduce inherent human biases
guide to reduce inherent human biases
guide to reduce inherent human biases and provides us with a structure of
and provides us with a structure of
and provides us with a structure of reaching a shared understanding and
reaching a shared understanding and
reaching a shared understanding and empowers us with a collaborative roadmap
empowers us with a collaborative roadmap
empowers us with a collaborative roadmap to address and solve our problems now
to address and solve our problems now
to address and solve our problems now more than ever
more than ever
more than ever when misrepresentations of science are
when misrepresentations of science are
when misrepresentations of science are publicly abundant and paid merchants of
publicly abundant and paid merchants of
publicly abundant and paid merchants of doubt’ contradict good science in order
doubt’ contradict good science in order
doubt’ contradict good science in order to serve powerful agendas
to serve powerful agendas
to serve powerful agendas we must engage in courageous public
we must engage in courageous public
we must engage in courageous public discourse and in our civic
discourse and in our civic
discourse and in our civic responsibilities to insist to those in
responsibilities to insist to those in
responsibilities to insist to those in power
power
power and to each other to let science serve
and to each other to let science serve
and to each other to let science serve and serve us better this year I thought
and serve us better this year I thought
and serve us better this year I thought that call to action more than ever and I
that call to action more than ever and I
that call to action more than ever and I wasn’t alone on April 22 2017 on more
wasn’t alone on April 22 2017 on more
wasn’t alone on April 22 2017 on more than 600 locations on all seven
than 600 locations on all seven
than 600 locations on all seven continents more than 1 million marchers
continents more than 1 million marchers
continents more than 1 million marchers United in a great show of public support
United in a great show of public support
United in a great show of public support to promote science and to champion for a
to promote science and to champion for a
to promote science and to champion for a stronger healthier relationship between
stronger healthier relationship between
stronger healthier relationship between science and society like snow that March
science and society like snow that March
science and society like snow that March made history but the journey doesn’t end
made history but the journey doesn’t end
made history but the journey doesn’t end there when science is heard and not
there when science is heard and not
there when science is heard and not silenced understood not denied when we
silenced understood not denied when we
silenced understood not denied when we can better bridge the gaps between
can better bridge the gaps between
can better bridge the gaps between having a cookbook and beating people
having a cookbook and beating people
having a cookbook and beating people then we’ll open more doors for science
then we’ll open more doors for science
then we’ll open more doors for science to reach its potential as that
to reach its potential as that
to reach its potential as that Enterprise deserving of the hope we
Enterprise deserving of the hope we
Enterprise deserving of the hope we place in it but it’s up to us and it’s a
place in it but it’s up to us and it’s a
place in it but it’s up to us and it’s a big kitchen so let’s get to work
big kitchen so let’s get to work
big kitchen so let’s get to work thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment