Does climate activism help or hinder an academic career?

Scientists involved in road-blocking and invading private jet terminals say they’ve lost out on promotions and been reported by students but others cite their protests in grant applications as forms of research output

Published on
August 23, 2023
Last updated
August 25, 2023
Ben Upton
Police officers try to prevent Scientist Rebellion activists from throwing red paint at the exterior of the Spanish Parliament to protest climate change, in Madrid, Spain, April 6, 2022
Source: Reuters
White-coated activists: members of Scientist Rebellion in Spain throw red paint at the parliament building in Madrid
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Reader's comments (4)

#1 Submitted by DiggingDeeper on August 23, 2023 - 8:13am
Climate change activists might have more impact if they targeted industry and commerce rather tnan individual cconsumers driving down the M25 to work/school/hospital - which consumers are already concerned about the financial impact of heat pumps, electric cars, ULEZ etc. This might alienate people rather than recruit them to the climate cause. Where are the climate change protestors targetting 'unecessary' goods and services, e.g. the excess plastic packaging at supermarkets, the burgeoning beauty industry, fast fashion, the software-drive obsolescence in the tech industry, the high level of rail fares (more than a plane ticket), and much much else.
#2 Submitted by t.... on August 23, 2023 - 10:50am
Well, all the things you mention have been tried and done. The fact that you are not aware proves the point that protests at, e.g., fossil fuel plants do not create the required public awareness and are widely ignored by the public (and the media). That's the reason behind the current tactics. The only way to make change happen is to raise public awareness, which may lead to a change in public opinion, which is the only bin-violent way to change politics in a democratic society. Suffragetes were a public nuisance, as were abolitionist, civil rights activists, and all the others we now call heros. Some of them also used many not quite so peaceful tactics in their struggles.
#3 Submitted by m.... on August 23, 2023 - 12:05pm
Climate change activists - particularly those with scientific research training - would have more impact if they proposed sustainable alternatives to any activity they denigrate, preferably ones that do not make life more difficult or expensive. Strident antics reinforce the all-too-common view of loony eco-warriors as people prepared to go to great expense and spend loads of time to be more sustainable. Most of us don't go that far. We'd like to live more sustainably but the ways to do so are too expensive and require more effort than we are willing to put in.
#4 Submitted by joris.... on September 1, 2023 - 12:09pm
They do. Many movements work very hard to propose policy changes, provide evidence, alternatives, suggestions. They are by and large ignored, because they aren't likely to have leverage. Chances are that the people you see actually putting their skins on the line in the streets, risking their reputations or careers, see no other alternative. The resulting "public view" that is published in the media is a game of PR. Both sides of the argument understand that - there is always a difference between appearance and factual reality.

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