Scientists Are Caught in a Political Trap

Scientists should in general tread carefully on "hot" political questions or they risk being cast as political actors rather than guardians of evidence. Science is strongest when it stands apart from activism; once researchers are seen as tailoring their findings to politics, trust erodes rapidly. We saw this during COVID-19, when some justified different distancing rules for the George Floyd protests—an inconsistency that did lasting damage to credibility. Few things are more harmful than the perception that evidence shifts with ideology. If science becomes just another partisan tool, its authority collapses. The challenge now is defending truth without becoming political combatants.

We all remember the mass protests and civil disobedience of scientists when they tried to make them swear ideological loyalty oaths [1,2,3,4], culminating in those things being thoroughly rejected. They can repeat what they did then, and I'm sure it'll be just as successful this time!

[1] Required ‘diversity and inclusion’ statements amount to a political litmus test for hiring - https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-universitys-new-loyalty-oat...

[2] Diversity Statements Required for One-Fifth of Academic Jobs - https://www.schoolinfosystem.org/2021/11/11/study-diversity-...

[3] Berkeley Weeded Out Job Applicants Who Didn't Propose Specific Plans To Advance Diversity - https://reason.com/2020/02/03/university-of-california-diver...

[4] A recent report from the Goldwater Institute found that 80% of job postings for Arizona’s public universities required applicants to submit a statement detailing their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. - https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/the-new-loy...