While humanity is landing robots on Mars and breaking open the mysteries of the universe, there continues a social trend of denying science. From objection of handwashing back in the 1800s to modern climate deniers, anti-maskers and even “flat-Earthers,” or people who believe that planet Earth is actually flat, “anti-science” movements aren’t new, but they are a problem facing us all today, according to Bill Nye, the Science Guy. He feels these people are not on board with the progress of science. “When you deny the body of knowledge that’s been discovered through the process of science, you’re holding all of us back, and this is why it’s such an important time.” Many of the vaccine naysayers could be put in the same category.
To this point, recently I heard a well-known scientist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, speak on a late night program regarding our country’s Covid vaccine hesitancy–he spoke about the need for better science education and marketing. I was pleased to find a recent article Neil has written that I found helpful in a Wall Street Journal article titled Science Needs Better Marketing:
“I learned that when faced with a common enemy—an enemy of the entire human species—we regressed to basal, primitive instincts rather than band together to fight. This was a test run for an alien invasion, and we failed. I had naively hoped that the same tribal urges that pit human against human could be harnessed to pit all humans against the killer virus. But that did not happen.
“We have apparently passed through a portal where pseudoscience, anti-science, fear-of-science and science-denial all thrive in our culture. Where systems of cultural, political and religious belief override the objective truths established by the methods and tools of science.
“If the enterprise of science were some newfangled, untested way of knowing, one might empathize with these sentiments. But the people who battle against science are the same ones who, for instance, wield and embrace their pocket-sized smartphones, which merge state-of-the-art engineering, mathematics, information technology and space physics. It’s an educator’s conundrum indeed.
“So perhaps what I really learned during the pandemic year is that science needs better marketing—refined and persistent—so that no one will ever again take its discoveries for granted.
“Imagine the ad campaigns: We fly through the air at 500 mph, seated in a cushioned chair, inside a 100-ton metal tube, 30,000 feet above the ground—because of science. We communicate with practically anyone we’ve ever met, in an instant, no matter where they are in the world—because of science. We obtain immediate access to all the compiled knowledge of the world, at our fingertips—because of science. Neither you nor your mother died in childbirth—because of science. Most people used to die at 65 or 45 or younger, but we don’t anymore—because of science. And we are able to glean accurate insights about Earth’s past, present and future, especially its climate, our ecosystem and the forces we exert upon them—because of science.
“In that future, Covid-19 would never have become a pandemic. Everyone would have understood the risks of transmission. And the bastions of anti-maskers, thinking they cannot spread the virus to others, would look as silly as a swimming pool with a designated ‘Peeing Section’.
“Until then, let’s not forget the efforts of lab scientists. Nobody writes stories about not dying by not contracting Covid-19. So it’s time to praise the researchers who developed vaccines in record time. If heroes save lives, then they are superheroes who have saved the lives of millions—because of science.”
Let’s let science prevail, Warriors–wear your mask and get vaccinated when you are able–what a relief it was to complete the series ourselves and be able to get hugs from our Granddaughter again.
Covid Humor: When we go into another lock down just train all the Amazon delivery drivers to give the vaccine. Entire population immunised by Saturday. Wednesday if you’ve got Prime.