Accountability in Science and Academia
What is science? Is it all theory, big words, and complicated ideas? Our modern word ’science’ can be traced back to the Latin word ‘scientia‘ which simply means ‘knowledge.’ Our modern understanding of this word will vary with whom you ask. Some see science simply as a quest for truth. Others see it as a much more rigid discipline, an island unto itself, unaffected by anything outside what they can physically witness (or so they would like us to think). If one looks to the dictionary, you may find several definitions, including:
science
n.
1.
b. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.
c. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.
2. Methodological activity, discipline, or study: I’ve got packing a suitcase down to a science.
3. An activity that appears to require study and method: the science of purchasing.
4. Knowledge, especially that gained through experience.
“science.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 27 Apr. 2008.
And
science
The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation. Science makes use of the scientific method, which includes the careful observation of natural phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis, the conducting of one or more experiments to test the hypothesis, and the drawing of a conclusion that confirms or modifies the hypothesis.
“science.” The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company. 27 Apr. 2008.
From the definitions it seems pretty simple and straightforward. So why all the confusion and debate? Are all scientists the same? From what I have seen, despite all the definitions and methods, many in science can’t even define it. There is still uncertainty as to what actually qualifies as science. From my experience, as in many professions, you have your theory people and your practical application people, sometimes these two overlap, but not always. Many times, those who are entrenched in theory, have lost site of the ‘real’ world and practical application. Those who deal with the practical side often are somewhat distanced from those entrenched in theory, and while they may understand it and may apply some of it, find much of it it has little relevant application to every day science.
This whole theory versus practical application discussion reminds me of the stories my father would tell of his days working in industry. It was the mechanical engineers out there day in and day out that really understood the machinery and how to fix it, not the newbies with their heads full of theory. Of course, now we could get into an argument just on the meaning of the word theory. But I digress…
Today the science and academic communities probably enjoy a level of freedom and success not seen at any other time in history. Unfortunately, despite greater access in the general populace to education and information, there is still a rift between ‘laypeople’ and those who consider themselves academians and scientists. This wall has allowed those in academia and science to wield a much greater power over information and government policy with little to no accountability to the populace they supposedly represent and ‘work’ for. Matter of fact, misinformation and misconstrued history abound today. We are currently at their mercy. They receive money to study any number of things, whether important or not, and often directly influence policy-making that affects us all.
Is this wall necessary? Is it real or imagined that people cannot understand what they do? Should we be concerned that they are conducting research in areas we ’supposedly’ can’t understand? Are they hiding behind ‘peer reviews’? What good is a peer review if all of your peers hold the same bias? Furthermore, what can we do about it?
We have one of two choices before us, continue to be intimidated and led down this path to destruction; just sit back and assume since we don’t ‘understand’ that we can’t do anything. Or we can speak up now and demand that they start being held accountable to the general populace. People have a right to be involved in matters that directly and indirectly affect their lives and the lives of their children and it is time people made their voices known.
