Society Is Ready for a New Kind of Science—Is Academia?

In her 1998 essay in Science (http://io.aibs.org/sci1), Jane Lubchenco boldly called for a new “Social Contract for Science,” one that would acknowledge the scope and scale of environmental problems and have “all scientists devote their energies and talents to the most pressing problems of the day in proportion to their importance.” We were entering a new millennium, and Lubchenco was worried that the scientific enterprise was unprepared to address the challenges related to climate change, pollution, health, and technology. Here we are, 20 years later, and our global challenges have only grown in complexity and urgency. Never before have we had such a clear understanding of our environmental crises and yet also been so far from delivering the investment in actionable research that Lubchenco called for. If the March for Science is any indication, researchers are ready to engage. But will universities—both leaders and the faculty who govern—acknowledge the need for reform? Academic institutions are increasingly seen as elite enclaves, out of touch with real-world problems, conducting research in isolated bubbles. We cannot afford to wait decades more for universities to provide the infrastructure and foster the culture needed to turn ideas into action. If we want science to serve society and the planet, as Lubchenco argued it must, then we all must take responsibility for institutional innovation in five key areas. We must do the following: 1. Produce not only professors but also future environmental leaders Few faculty members can serve as mentors for students interested in real-world problem solving, because most do not engage in use-inspired science or actively cultivate relationships with external practitioners. Employers are increasingly demanding hybrid skill sets (http://io.aibs.org/ ec1), but most graduate programs produce individuals with highly specific training and uncertain job prospects (http://io.aibs.org/he1). More faculty conducting applied work will help, but institutions can do their part by incentivizing partnerships between scientists and “boots-on-the-ground” practitioners and providing training and career paths for scientists whose focus is communication and engagement with business, government, and communities.