BOOKS ET AL.

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

For the Democracy of Science

Alyssa Pelish

The reviewer is at the American Council on Science and Health, 1995 Broadway, Suite 202, New York, NY 10023 5882, USA. E-mail: alyssa.pelish@gmail.com

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CREDIT: JOE SUTLIFF/WWW.CDAD.COM/JOE

he bio attached to Shawn Lawrence Ottos blog on science and politics (1) notes his accomplishments as a science advocate, political strategist, and screenwriter (House of Sand and Fog). It also mentions that hes an Eagle Scout, although that seems in keeping with the persistently civicminded project of Fool Me Twice. The book is not a stand-alone critique, lancing expos, or purely philosophical treatise such as otherswith undoubtedly similar concerns have written within the past decade. It is not that Otto doesnt critique, expose, or philosophize; certainly, his dissatisfaction with the dismal state of scientic literacy among the American public and its lawmakers is readily apparent, as are his progressive ideals. Rather, what distinguishes the book is his determination to simultaneously educate and move to action both lay readers and scientists. Ottos most urgent concern is the overwhelming absence, in both the public and its elected representatives, of the science literacy required to make informed policy decisions. This illiteracy is troubling for many reasonsnot the least of which are the consequences of policy based on highly subjective beliefs and assumptions rather than the relevant science. Otto points to dismal policies effected after largely rhetorical skirmishes over climate change and evolutionary theory, but he could just as easily have singled out whats at stake in, say, the hackles raised by the idea of vaccinating preteen girls against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus. A public and its elected policy-makers who dont understand the science behind these issues will inevitably respond with their guts. Otto finds this gut-based, ideologically driven displacement of science from policy decisions to be problematic on a more fundamental level: the way in which laws based

through the relevant histories of both government and science in the United States. He draws out the parallels between the scientic method and democracy so that it seems inevitable that the two should be entwined. Of course, at this point science and government in the United States are not as on faith and assumptions instead of evidence entwined as Otto argues they should be. pull the United States from its democratic After discussing several major policy issues foundations toward an increasingly authori- to demonstrate problems that arise from the tarian government. Ottos gap between the two, he examargument that the indepenines why Americans have dence declared by Jefferson become so effectively disFool Me Twice et al. hinged on freedom of tanced from science. He conFighting the Assault inquiry and reason is perhaps templates how the fears raised on Science in America the canniest part of the case by the atomic age and, later, by Shawn Lawrence Otto he makes for science literacy. environmental disasters have Rodale, Emmaus, PA, 2011. He reminds us of the thinkleft a lingering distrust among 384 pp. $25.99, C$29.99. ers (e.g., Bacon, Newton, and the public. Intriguingly, he ISBN 9781605292175. Locke) whose arguments for considers how both the undethe inductive reasoning and niably authoritarian Christian empiricism so crucial to sciright and the ostensibly antience inuenced Jeffersons ideas of democ- authoritarian postmodernist denial of objecracy and its aims. A key tenet of Jeffersonian tive truth have undermined appreciation for democracy is that an educated, well-informed science. Otto also takes a look at how corcitizenry can be trusted to govern itself. porate interests have confused our sense of Something has gone wrong, Otto argues, sciences credibility. And he doesnt overlook the many scientists who have turned inward, preferring not to have to explain their work or its relevance to a public that is ever more ill-equipped to understand it. After outlining Americas science problem and discussing science politics of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the author offers a concluding section, The solution. Otto strongly endorses working within peoples comfort zones to acquaint them with the science behind public issues that affect them. He lauds the biology professor who encourages religiously conservative students to reconcile their beliefs with their study of evolution and the religious leader who challenges parishioners to think critically about scripture and, by extension, the scientic world. Admittedly, these are the sorts of local gestures that may only lead to small changes here and there. Ottos most intriguing idea, however, is science debates, in which candidates discuss when those who are supposed to represent the their stances on science-based policy issues. public are not adequately informed about the He and scientists who support the idea would science behind important issues yet continue like to make these a part of all presidential and to insist on their beliefs. Such a top-down, congressional election seasons. They believe empirically empty method of governance, such public debates will force politicians to he notes, is closer to the blind ideology of ground their opinions in scientic knowledge authoritarianism than to democracy. instead of rhetoric. And, just as importantly, Instead of simply insisting on the preemi- placing science in discussions of policies nence of science (a subject many people know that affect the public allows them to become little about and, consequently, are intimidated familiar with science and knowledge-based by), Otto ties its importance to the ideals and argumentation as opposed to mere rhetodemands of democracy. Aiming to instill a ric, to learn or relearn how to distinguish the sense of duty in his readers, he walks them two, and to use this thought process not only

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BOOKS ET AL.
in making electoral decisions but also in discussing things with their kids. The cynics among us would argue that bringing this idea to fruition requires the optimism of an Eagle Scout. (Could the protocol of such debates guard against politicians habits of cherry-picking scientific facts at their own convenience? Would the public be willing to educate themselves enough to actually follow the content of the debates?) Yet the assumption that a well-informed people will act in its countrys best interest is fundamental to the ideals of Jeffersonian democracy. The solutions Otto suggests require a great deal of dedication and optimism. Nonetheless, the problems he identies are quite real. Fool Me Twice offers a compelling consideration of the United States political estrangement from science. One would very much like to attend to Ottos equally compelling hopes.

for survival. Most important, there appears to be a distinct avoidance of identifying the References increasing human population as a potential 1. http://shawnotto.com/neorenaissance/. threat to ecosystem stability. Our choice to avoid discussion of the 10.1126/science.1212889 population issue, however, will not make the problems disappear. Christophe Faucheres lm Mother: Caring for 7 Billion encourages FILM: ENVIRONMENT us to reengage, both publicly and personally, with the reality of what our increasing population will bring. In its examination of the history of the population concern and our current level of resource use and consumphis year, the global population passed tion, Mother does not shy away from arguing the seven billion mark. By the year that unchecked human population growth is 2045, the world is expected to host not sustainable. Nor, however, does the lm nine billion human beings. Let me repeat succumb to a fatalistic viewpoint. Instead, that: nine billion. In the 1960s, heightened Fauchere attempts to inspire change through concern over the population explosion interviews and stories of individual transprompted a global focus on Earths ability to formations. A brave Ethiopian woman sustain the rapidly increasemboldened by a radio ing human population. Since show that encourages Mother that time, the number of peowomen to think about Caring for 7 Billion ple on the planet has nearly family planning and stand Christophe Fauchere, director doubled, but, oddly, concern up for themselvesleads Tiroir A Films Productions, over the impact of the everviewers to see that the Denver, CO, 2011. 55 minutes. increasing human population empowerment of women www.motherthelm.com seems to have faded from the across the world could publics attention. When the be a rst step toward both size of the human population is mentioned limiting population growth and ghting povthese days, it is most often in the context of erty. Other interviews with human rights and wondering how we will feed so many. One population workers in developing countries rarely hears other important concerns sur- are similarly convincing and inspiring. These rounding the continuing increase in our num- lead one to the hopeful conclusion that as berssuch as whether our resource use will conditions for women improve, so will their permit the survival of other species, whether ability to manage the size of, and provide essential resources (for example, clean water) better lives for, their families. will remain available following the complete I had hoped for an equally inspiring tale anthropogenic alteration of Earths systems, about how to tackle other aspects of the and how our focus on consumption and eco- human population problem, those of connomic growth amplifies human impacts sumption and an overwhelming focus on above and beyond our simple requirements economic growth in developed countries.

The Underlying Issue

CREDIT: FROM MOTHER: CARING FOR 7 BILLION/COURTESY TIROIR A FILMS

Here, however, the challenges are greater, and the lm leaves us without concrete solutions. Fauchere marshals interviews with ecologists, economists, and sociologists to convincingly argue that developed economies are based on consumption and, further, that as developing countries improve their quality of life, they too enter into a consumption economy. All people deserve an equal quality of life, but the unfortunate truth is that Earth cannot sustain a developedcountry level of consumption for billions of people. As pointed out in the lm, it would take all the resources of 10 Earths to support the current global human population at the consumption level of the United States. The question of how humanity will equalize living conditions across the globe for a growing population while still maintaining the ecological systems we depend on is monumental and overwhelming. Mother does not provide us with answers. Instead, the lm suggests that the daunting nature of the solution may explain why we choose to ignore many of the harshest truths about the population problem. The lm compellingly argues that a fair and just solution is likely to only be found in a complete refocusing of our priorities and societies. Specically, we must value diversity, human and biological, over the gross national product and human solidarity over competition. Although Fauchere does not show us how to get to this point, Mother leaves viewers with a ray of hope that humanity has the potential to reach such a state. It will also convince them that to do so we must not be afraid to reengage with the population issue and that the time for such renewed engagement is now.
Sacha Vignieri
10.1126/science.1214575

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