SCIENTIST-ADVOCATES SPEAK OUT DESPITE THE RISKS
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LOUISE JASPER PHOTOGRAPHY
Charlie Gardner speaks at an Extinction Rebellion protest.
SCIENTIST-ADVOCATES SPEAK
OUT DESPITE THE RISKS
Three researchers petition for climate-change action,
wildfire management and neuroscience funding.
F
or many scientists, engaging in activism producing papers — a main metric of achieve- work, such as teaching, would be the biggest
and advocacy feels like a calling. They ment for many institutions. Peers might not incentive for helping them to participate in
find fulfilment in using their expertise recognize this non-research work, either. As such activities.
to push for changes to national or local such, many scientists who are committed to All too often, advocacy is treated as an extra-
policies, increased research funding or influencing policy do it in their own time. curricular activity rather than an important
better patient care. In a survey run by a consortium led by part of the job. Even so, many scientists with
Depending on the political context, however, UK science-funding giant Wellcome, 61% of the desire and opportunity to engage carve
there can be career repercussions to speaking respondents cited insufficient time as the main out ways to influence policies and the public,
out. It can also come at a cost to career advance- reason that they did not get involved in public outside the laboratories and lecture halls. Here,
ment: time spent talking to elected represent- engagement (see go.nature.com/3jmahcc). three researchers share how they have man-
atives or campaigners is time not spent on Respondents said that being relieved of other aged to balance advocacy with scholarship.
Nature | Vol 603 | 10 March 2022 | 349
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Work / Careers
Charlie
Gardner
Charlie Gardner is an associate senior
lecturer in conservation biology at the
Durrell Institute of Conservation and
Ecology at the University of Kent in
Canterbury, UK. He regularly participates
in protests with Scientists for Extinction
Rebellion, an offshoot of a broader
movement that uses non-violent civil
disobedience to push for action on the
climate and biodiversity crises. He has
also advised on legislation such as the UK
Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill,
which seeks to curb the nation’s greenhouse-
gas emissions and biodiversity loss and is
currently making its way through Parliament.
What drove you to activism?
Teaching. Five or six years ago, I was standing
at the front of a lecture theatre, full of young
people who are going to be affected by climate
change much more than I am. I couldn’t stand
that I wasn’t doing everything I could. When
Extinction Rebellion (XR) was launched in the
United Kingdom in October 2018, it felt like the Wildfires are becoming more frequent in the Orinoquía region of Colombia.
answer. As conservationists, we silently wish
that members of the general public cared more fire suppression in the savannah are also
about the destruction of nature. Now they are factors. And climate change is affecting the
taking to the streets, and I have this moral obli- wildfire dynamics.
gation to be there in support. As a result, we are seeing changing
How did Scientists for XR start?
María Constanza patterns, with more frequent and intense
wildfires in forest areas where they were
In October 2019, a group of scientists came Meza Elizalde not common before, and covering larger
together to create Scientists for XR, which has areas. This leads to forest degradation and to
carried out many actions. These include past- María Constanza Meza Elizalde is a forest political decisions in which only the negative
ing scientific papers to the walls of the London engineer and PhD student at the National side of fire is seen.
headquarters of News Corp in 2021 in protest University of Colombia in Bogotá, where Communities living in fire-dependent
against inadequate climate-change coverage she researches fire ecology and conducts ecosystems know how to reduce risks, but
in the company’s newspapers. fieldwork in hard-to-reach areas with environmental authorities don’t recognize
The group has various functions. One is to recurring fire problems. With her adviser these practices. Right now, there are no laws
provide scientific support for the wider XR and other students in her research or conservation strategies in Colombia that
movement, so that it remains founded on solid group, she’s been drafting and lobbying recognize the ecological role of fire.
scientific ground. A second is to advocate. Sci- for legislation that aims to reduce fire
entists vocally supporting XR sends a powerful risk overall, while recognizing diverse How did you get involved in drafting fire
message. Society trusts scientists. business and cultural practices related legislation?
A third function is direct action. Scientists to fire. Because there were no public forums to
for XR groups have been involved in a number talk about fires and develop strategies for
of XR events. For example, at the 2021 open- Why is there a need for a science-backed reducing the risks, we began a dialogue with
ing of a London Science Museum exhibition fire-management bill? local communities about the problems and
sponsored by oil and gas company Shell, I study the Orinoquía region, near the benefits of fires, while also involving non-
some scientists locked themselves to parts of border with Venezuela. It’s an area of governmental organizations, public entities,
the exhibition in protest against the sponsor- extensive savannahs, where the number fire departments and national parks.
ship, while our group set up a table outside to of wildfires is increasing, mainly because The great challenge is to articulate
demonstrate principles of atmospheric cool- of activities such as hunting, along scientific, local and institutional knowledge
ing and engage with the public. Such events with agricultural burning that gets out to guarantee a fire-management plan that will
serve to highlight the issue of science muse- of control. Landscape-management result in safe and resilient landscapes. People
ums accepting sponsorship from fossil-fuel decisions, very frequent burning or total think that only legislators can make laws. This
companies.
350 | Nature | Vol 603 | 10 March 2022
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How can scientists dip their toes
organize ourselves and work collaboratively. into this type of work?
When it comes to research, all the
students in the group have our own theses, What the public sees of these direct actions
but we are a team, whose research and joint is the tip of the iceberg. For every person out
work contribute to our influence in decision- on the streets, there are 20 more behind the
making. Alone, we couldn’t have had much scenes involved in other tasks: organizing,
impact. producing press releases, baking cakes for
marchers. Whatever you enjoy doing and have
Have you encountered people who don’t skills in, there is a role for you.
take you or your science seriously? Taking part does not have to involve engag-
At the regional and local levels, the reaction ing in civil disobedience yourself, or putting
has been mostly positive. And although yourself in a risky position. One of the most
not all national-level institutions take us important jobs at a protest is for people to
seriously, we’ve found that legislators, stand at the edges, engaging the public in
regardless of their political position, take our conversations. That’s a role that scientists can
science-based recommendations seriously. perform fantastically.
For me, as a PhD student, it has been very
gratifying to have support from members of How have your advocacy and
all political parties. activism benefited you?
As a woman, I have other challenges to There’s this crazy notion that scientists
being heard. Being a woman in discussion shouldn’t speak out because it will damage
spaces where the majority of participants their reputations. But activism has had the
are men, it takes more time to build your opposite effect on my career. My research
confidence. For example, I am an early- is based on conservation in Madagascar; it’s
career researcher but I am also an engineer fairly niche. I previously had no global reputa-
and I have a master’s degree. Yet, in some tion. Since becoming a vocal scientist-activist,
workspaces, people keep calling me a ‘girl’. my reputation and my visibility as a scientist
have soared.
What’s your advice for early-career Also, activism is great for my mental health.
scientists who want to influence policy? Knowing I’m doing what I can is important to
First, I want to express my admiration for me. There are simply the best people in these
scientists who work in remote areas affected movements, and there’s a sense of community.
is not true — citizens can propose them. We by armed conflict. I know how difficult and
MARÍA MEZA
had the support of Congressman Mauricio even dangerous it is for environmental Does being a vocal activist diminish
Toro, who is a member of Colombia’s Green defenders to discuss controversial ideas to your scientific credibility?
Alliance party, and his technical legislative influence policies. Popular perception holds that scientists must
staff. We designed a bill that recognizes both The greatest lesson I’ve learnt about the be neutral purveyors of information and not
scientific and ancestral, traditional knowledge, legislative process is how to communicate speak up about what that information means.
while respecting ecological heritage and science more effectively and contribute Somehow, if we do so, it could damage our
to politicians’ capacity for understanding credibility.
“A communication strategy complex scientific problems. But when scientists take personal risks and
As scientists, we do not always consider make personal sacrifices, that communicates
that considers economic other stakeholders’ access to information, the urgency of the situation in an important
disparities or technological but it’s important that research results reach way. If scientists are saying that it’s time for
barriers is essential.” interested parties outside academia in a action, but not acting themselves, that under-
timely manner. mines their own arguments.
A communication strategy that considers
economic disparities or technological How do you balance your academic
regulations for integrated fire management. barriers is essential. For example, written responsibilities with advocacy?
The bill would also promote research to pamphlets are useless in communities For five years, I worked half-time at the Uni-
develop strategies for reducing the risk with high illiteracy. So our group has been versity of Kent. I did this deliberately, to allow
of wildfires, and encouraging ecological incorporating different communication me the freedom to engage in other activities,
restoration, environmental rehabilitation and strategies, including an art exhibition and including conservation consultancy, activism
recovery of natural ecosystems affected by a radio soap opera, to make the messages and writing popular non-fiction. I left that
forest fires. more effective. post last year, partly to focus on activism and
This feels important, because in Colombia, writing, and partly out of frustration with the
How do you balance this advocacy work with we have many problems of climate change precarity of academic life.
your PhD commitments? and armed conflict. We’re facing huge There are things that enable me to be less
It is difficult. Fortunately, my network of challenges but they are not insurmountable. single-minded in the pursuit of my career: I
academic and family support allows me If scientists work together, we can influence come from a position of relative privilege; I’m
to raise my voice. Dolors Armenteras, my the attitudes and actions of communities not interested in accumulating money; and I
PhD supervisor, listened to my suggestion and governments. The only way forward is don’t have children. So I think academia has
and taught me and the rest of the group to collaborative work. been a good fit for me, but only because it
doesn’t fill my life.
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Work / Careers
Q&A
Christin
Godale
Christin Godale has lived with epilepsy
since being diagnosed around the age of
two. She credits neuroscience with saving
her life and giving her a vocation; in 2016,
she started a PhD in neuroscience at the
University of Cincinnati in Ohio. Godale
advocates for neuroscience funding, as
both a patient and a scientist.
Describe your advocacy for funding
I work with the US Society for Neuroscience
(SfN) as an early-career policy ambassador.
CHRISTIN GODALE
In this role, I have opportunities to meet
policymakers, maintain relationships with the
offices of elected officials and contribute to
collaborative advocacy through phone calls,
social media and letter-writing with the SfN. Christin Godale in the Danzer lab at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, Ohio.
We’re advocating for increases in federal
funding of US$49.4 billion for the US seizures, which can prove fatal. How has the pandemic affected your work?
National Institutes of Health; $612 million for Another bill, proposed in Ohio, would Early in the COVID-19 crisis, my university
the BRAIN Initiative, a research-technology require publicly funded schools to create a shut down non-essential scientific research.
project focusing on brain disorders; and ‘seizure action plan’ for each student with a When my lab was not in service, I had
$904 million for neuroscience-related seizure disorder. These plans include first aid more time to focus on advocacy efforts,
research at the US Department of Veterans and medication to help staff care for a student specifically with the SfN. I participated in
Affairs. who has a seizure at school. Astonishingly, the SfN’s NeuroAdvocate Challenge, which
We’re also advocating for extra funding for these plans are not commonly used or encouraged US neuroscientists to attend
federal research agencies to allow scientists required in schools across the United States. I meetings of the Congressional Neuroscience
to complete work halted by the COVID-19 am campaigning for them to be implemented Caucus, a bipartisan group that raises
pandemic, and to extend employment or at the University of Cincinnati. awareness of neurological conditions and
training for people whose projects have mental illnesses, and to support researchers
been disrupted. The legislation to authorize How does your lived experience of epilepsy affected by the pandemic.
this was introduced into the US House of shape your science advocacy? The crisis also brought to light
Representatives last November. This was a Navigating graduate studies while living with shortcomings in the academic system
result, we think, of many scientist-advocates epilepsy was challenging at first, but my – explicitly, a lack of training in science
holding ‘Hill Days’, events at which scientists adviser, Steve Danzer, and my lab-mates have communication, which is needed to battle
discuss research with policymakers. provided me with the support that I needed misinformation and pseudoscience. Many
to be successful. A lot of that support is made universities are now trying to improve in this
What support would you like to see? possible because they understand epilepsy area.
I work on various local and national patient not only at a mechanistic level, but also at a
initiatives, including the Safe Step Act. This personal level. My colleagues always make How do you balance your advocacy and
proposed federal legislation would allow themselves available to help with experiments research with your personal life?
exemptions from ‘step therapy’, whereby on days when I have an unexpected seizure; When I started my graduate programme,
health insurers require patients to try, and they also ask for resources to educate I would work an insane number of hours a
fail on, multiple medications before they can themselves on patients’ perspective, and day. However, my work and mental health
receive the drug initially prescribed by their volunteer at events for Epilepsy Alliance Ohio suffered from the resulting burnout. I
doctors. The process is meant to lower costs in Cincinnati, part of the nationwide support learnt that I needed to have my own time,
for the insurers, because some drugs are network Epilepsy Alliance America. to spend with my family and cats and
cheaper to prescribe; however, they might Like many people with epilepsy, I rely to dabble in some of my hobbies, such
not be the correct ones for a specific case. on anti-seizure medications, which allow as cooking and listening to true-crime
The act would exempt people with me to pursue my dreams and ambitions. podcasts. I wish I’d discovered a healthy
epilepsy from step-therapy protocols if they Advocating for basic science is very personal work–life balance earlier on, but I’m happy
are stable on their anti-seizure medication for the epilepsy community and myself. that I finally found it.
or have already had a bad reaction to a Researchers should consider the voices of
treatment. Individuals who are forced by patient advocates when performing basic Interviews by Christine Ro.
step therapy to go on multiple medications research, writing a grant application or giving Interviews have been edited for length and
are at higher risk of developing breakthrough a scientific presentation. clarity.
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