Input to the CSIRO Charter – last chance
From the President, Dr Michael Borgas
The Science Minister has been pushing for most of this year to enhance the role of science in society.
In CSIRO this means developing a new charter, part of a new contract of science with society and science with government. A draft is in on the CSIRO Intranet, with a call for comment by the 30th of June (see Monday Mail). Despite the tight timeframe, members are encouraged to put forward their comment.
Recent history has focussed on the role of scientists in public debates, which is both encouraged and constrained by internal processes, expectations of government and other fixed bureaucracy. It is important, however, that we contribute more science to the public debates on energy, food, and water security, urban pollution, industrial development and climate change and other emerging issues. It is equally important that scientists participate more and more in the selection and conduct of the science, and that enough freedom is available for creative new ideas from science.
This contract will require more responsibility from us as scientists to listen and learn from society, to inform our science conduct, and to feedback to society useful science and expert comment.
Commenting outside of areas of expertise is dangerous no matter how well intentioned. Last week in News Of The Week in Science (20 June 2008 Vol 320 SCIENCE page 1576), the President of the Australian Academy of Science made the triple error of criticising government industry policy, making a political statement about Labor dogma, and accusing the Minister of not listening - all in two sentences. It is not clear that he was speaking on behalf of the Academy or that he had the expertise to comment on political judgement in this way. We must constantly temper the hubris of science with the humble reality of science.
A charter is just a useful part of this process to again remind us of the role of science in society. The broadest possible ownership of the charter, and broader participation in the conduct of our science, is what we should aspire to. Science is not a top-down dogma driven ritual, but a bottom up innovative change process which needs freedom and active participation to thrive. Please make an effort to engage with the process. It may be a small symbolic step towards a less bureaucratic more creative role for science, but without making steps we never go anywhere.
Michael Borgas
President
CSIRO Staff Association
PS If you can’t meet the short timeframe for consultation through CSIRO channels, send your comments to csstaff@cpsu.org.au by 4 July and the Association will make sure they are put forward.
Read the opinion of Joan Leach from the University of Queensland on a Charter in Australasian Science, June 2008 p.42.
A .pdf of this letter is available for download from the delegates' resources page
