Research Summary
Authored by Cameron N. Ramey in October 2020, "The Role of the Scientist" explores the striking parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate change crisis, framing both as global emergencies that require "flattening a curve"—whether addressing rapid infection rates or the drastic rise in global temperatures. The study highlights a critical distinction in the timing of these emergencies, contrasting the immediate, visible disruption of the pandemic with the slower, multi-generational progression of climate change.
The report delves into the evolving responsibility of the scientific community, arguing that traditional boundaries between objective research and public advocacy are increasingly blurred. It concludes that in light of the politicization and unprecedented risks posed by environmental shifts, the more pertinent concern for the modern researcher is not whether to advocate, but how to do so in a responsible and credible way that serves the social order.