Panel to address Americans’ attitudes toward science
A panel discussion addressing questions about Americans’ attitudes toward science, “Science Under Attack: Politics, Policy and Science in America,” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 in the Bazarsky Lecture Hall.
Science seems relevant to many of the most important questions we face as a society – from combating disease to providing for our energy needs to growing enough food to feed a rising population. Yet it’s not clear how Americans feel about science and scientists.
A recent article in the New York Review of Books argues that while we tend to trust and value scientific findings in principle, we’re willing to throw out scientific perspectives if they clash with economic interests or religious views, or simply if they make imperfect predictions. As controversy about global warming shows, many Americans may even wonder whether scientists can be trusted.
Presented by the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy, the panel discussion will be moderated by Pell Center senior fellow Joseph Grady, who will contribute additional perspectives on public dialogue about the issue.
Panelists will include:
- Suzanne Shaw, director of communications for the Union of Concerned Scientists
- Todd Bianco, principal policy associate at the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission
Audience members will be encouraged to contribute questions and opinions. To register for the panel discussion, visit the Pell Center’s Eventbrite page.
