Abstract
Science has been under siege in the U.S. for a number of years. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. While most of the attacks on science have focused in the past 10 to 20 years on climate science, it's fair to say that the life sciences have been outside the crosshairs.
No longer.
As the U.S. struggles through a summer of dramatically increasing COVID-19 case numbers—more than 73,000 new cases daily at press time—the agenda-driven assaults on the science, and those who make public health and public policy decisions based on science, have only increased in recent weeks.
The short list of attacks includes the U.S. pulling funding from the World Health Organization, the undermining of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its role in providing health guidelines for response to the pandemic, and, most recently, the smear campaign against Anthony Fauci, M.D., perhaps one of the most respected public service scientists in the country.
As many of us try to do our part to keep ourselves—and others—safe, it can be maddening that something as simple as wearing a mask in public has become a death-match between those who want to hunker down to slow the spread of the virus and those who think that simple act is an affront to “fundamental freedom.” And often, this picayune and perceived infringement is accompanied by the further justification that masks aren't necessary, propped up by the contention that the virus isn't nearly the problem it has been cracked up to be.
Yes, it's tiring. But it's also not the time for anyone who believes science, and the curative power of scientific discovery, to shrug your shoulders at this blinkered ignorance and go on with your day. Right now, we don't have the luxury of ignoring the willful disregard for science.
While there is no shortage of outrage and confrontation on social media, I'm not convinced trying to point out facts with heavy doses of snark, insults, or anger accomplishes much. It seems to me this tack also is less about defending science and truth and more about scoring points among a tribe, or making the poster feel better.
To me, standing up for science isn't about slugging it out in the trenches on Facebook or Twitter with those determined to remain unconvinced. Rather, I suggest we let science do the talking.
When you see or hear something you believe is meant to discredit science online, post that study you saw recently with a note, “You might find this interesting.” Then leave it at that. In person, you might try a simple “a study I read recently indicates something different, I'll send you a link to it later.” Then, again, leave it and move on. Don't give an inch, but be polite.
Because peer-reviewed research has always been your friend, rely on it now, more than ever.