How can science overcome the crisis?

When crises occur, such as wars or natural disasters, science is often cited as a solution. But science and scientists are also vulnerable to crisis, and a new report says scientific institutions need to be better prepared.

The report was produced by the Center for the Future of Science, a think tank run by the nonprofit International Science Council.

According to the report titled, Protecting science in times of crisis Research sectors need to “take greater responsibility” for resilience before a crisis occurs, as well as protecting scientists and scientific information when a disaster occurs.

The report examines a series of case studies, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A fire broke out at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brazil in 2018. Japan’s reconstruction after World War II. Then there was the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011.

For example, the fire at the Museum of Natural Sciences “destroyed most of the museum’s 20 million scientific and cultural artifacts, thereby destroying much of the country’s scientific and cultural heritage,” the report said. Says. Fires have also damaged research in Australia, like the 2003 Canberra bushfires that destroyed the Mt Stromlo Observatory.

While scientists are not necessarily the most vulnerable at the beginning of a crisis, the report reveals that they can “slip through the cracks” during the recovery.

Professor Sayaka Oki, a historian of science and technology at the University of Tokyo, says: universe Scientists have “special needs” in times of crisis.

Oki points out that when infrastructure is destroyed, scientists often find it harder than average to get their jobs back after a disaster compared to “jobs that are closely related to daily life, such as working in restaurants or working in construction.” do.

This could lead to a “brain drought” in which scientists leave their home countries in search of work.

“So many countries, especially developing countries, experienced a loss of talent after the crisis,” says Oki, who contributed information to the report about the 2011 tsunami and subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster. The nuclear power plant accident is still coming to an end.

The report highlights that “international scientific institutions such as universities, funders, governments, academies, foundations and disciplinary unions are often best placed to address these needs.” It also said scientific and research institutions could play an “important role” in the post-crisis phase.

“Crisis and natural disasters destroy not only physical infrastructure and the environment, but also social networks and memory itself,” Oki says.

“For example, when a tsunami hits a workplace, many historical documents are destroyed. So in such a situation, you have to consider the recovery of different things.”

Oki says one of the consequences of the Fukushima nuclear disaster was the importance of having a clear and specific message in the immediate aftermath.

“The first thing we need is a single voice and a powerful message. [to avoid] It creates even more panic,” Oki said, adding that good scientific communication and social science are key to getting this balance right.

“But little by little, we should return to normal democratic debate.”

The 2011 earthquake was one of the most powerful ever recorded, and the Japanese scientific community was “shocked” by the quake and subsequent tsunami, Oki said.

If a similar disaster were to occur tomorrow, would Japan respond differently?

“Well, I hope so,” Oki says.

“But that’s a difficult question because we’re in more difficult times than we were 10 years ago. Japan, for example, is more politically divided now and the media environment is different,” she said. added.

Sir Peter Gluckman, President of the International Council for Science, said: “This report marks an era in which schools, universities, research centers, hospitals and all the places that promote the progress of education and scientific research have become sites of conflict and destruction.” It was announced in .” Or suffered during crises in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, or elsewhere. ”

“We in the scientific community need to be thoughtful about creating an environment in which science can survive and thrive,” Gluckman says.

Oki emphasizes that the need to protect and support academics also extends to academics in the social sciences and humanities.

“Many Ukrainian historians I know in my network had even more difficulty getting direct support from foreign universities,” she says.

“Many of them are women. Some of them are supported, but not as much as natural scientists.”