Harvard University professor Naomi Oreskes believes that the social contract between science and American society is broken beyond repair. “The unfortunate reality is that our elected government is increasingly populated with many men and women who do not merely ignore scientific facts, they appear to despise them and the people who produce them. They see science as something that stands in the way of their political goals, and therefore must be pushed out of the way.” The author of “Why Trust Science?” says the solution isn’t a call for more science or the restoration of “scientific integrity,” whatever that is. She says, “As scientific conclusions become more indisputable, the machinations of those who are threatened by it become more outrageous. There comes a point when maybe one simply has to accept that the dream has died and it is time for a new one.” Naomi Oreskes is professor of the History of Science at Harvard University and the author of nearly 200 books, scholarly papers, and articles. Her opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post and other major publications. Contact her at oreskes@fas.harvard.edu
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