Marching in the streets for climate-crisis action

Abstract

or many scientists, engaging in activism and advocacy feels like a calling. They find fulfilment in using their expertise to push for changes to national or local policies, increased research funding or better patient care.Depending on the political context, however, there can be career repercussions to speaking out. It can also come at a cost to career advancement: time spent talking to elected representatives or campaigners is time not spent on producing papers -a main metric of achievement for many institutions. Peers might not recognize this non-research work, either. As such, many scientists who are committed to influencing policy do it in their own time.In a survey run by a consortium led by UK science-funding giant Wellcome, 61% of respondents cited insufficient time as the main reason that they did not get involved in public engagement (see go.nature.com/3jmahcc). Respondents said that being relieved of other work, such as teaching, would be the biggest incentive for helping them to participate in such activities.All too often, advocacy is treated as an extracurricular activity rather than an important part of the job. Even so, many scientists with the desire and opportunity to engage carve out ways to influence policies and the public, outside the laboratories and lecture halls. Here, three researchers share how they have managed to balance advocacy with scholarship.