Climate crisis, Corona, gendering… In the knowledge-based society we live in, science is directly exposed to the political struggles of its time. Many people expect science to be “neutral” and provide “facts.” Science is supposed to be politically relevant without being political itself.

But is that even possible? Can scientists be detached from the problems closest to their hearts? Isn’t the choice of a research question already a political decision? How are we supposed to free ourselves from our social position, our political and social bias, when we do science?

Could it even be that science becomes better when it is also activism with an openly revealed agenda? And could it be that political activism becomes better when it originates more strongly in science, with its willingness to continually jettison old certainties?

Panelists:

• Reto Knutti, Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich
• Sabrina Heike Kessler, Communication Science and Media Research, UZH
• Tanja Rechnitzer, Philosophy, University of Hannover

Moderation:
Stefan Schlegel, Law, University of Bern