In recent years, the scientific community has faced increasing challenges in
communicating research findings and professional opinions to the public. Scientists across various disciplines have reported experiencing criticism, harassment, and even threats for sharing their expertise, particularly on controversial or politically sensitive topics. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on scientific progress, public trust in science, and the willingness of researchers to engage in public discourse.
We asked our community several questions surrounding this, but we wanted to highlight the responses to one particular question. We asked “Have you experienced yourself or observed other scientists being attacked for sharing their professional opinions?” 78% of respondents reported either personally experiencing attacks or observing them happen to colleagues, while only 22% reported no such experiences.
Overall, these statistics and anecdotal evidence paint a picture of a challenging environment for many scientists, particularly those working on politically or economically sensitive topics. The high percentage of scientists who have either experienced or observed such attacks underscores the need for better protection and support for researchers sharing their professional opinions in the public sphere. It’s OK to have public discourse over science topics. That is what helps advance our understanding of science. It is NOT OK to attack scientists personally for sharing their professional opinion on a scientific topic.