Agents of (un)sustainability: democratising universities for the planetary crisis

Frontiers in Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: May 15, 2023

As producers and gatekeepers of knowledge, as providers education training, our universities play a key role in the reproduction unsustainability. This article finds that they are, currently organised, therefore complicit frustrating delaying action to address planetary crisis. However, highly resourced influential institutions, have an inherently transformative potential, should their resources activities be redirected towards progressive social ecological ends, which challenge rather than support unsustainable status quo. means that, workers within these academics researchers are faced with choice: agents this or advocates activists for change. We argue latter. In doing so, we seek build on analysis demands emergent movements such Fossil Free Research, Faculty Future Scientist Rebellion making case show leadership listening very science produce emergency, act accordingly. Employing green political economy critical analysis, suggests if contribute societal transformation, themselves must undergo transformations explicitly systematically reorient academic practices around protection priorities. Building findings, it lays out series normative practical arguments broad programme democratisation three pillars practise: (1) (2) Education (3) Outreach engagement. any processes will course difficult, especially given wider neoliberal context operate, well conservative institutional culture disincentivises dissent from “business usual”. discussion follows, anticipate advancing innovative changes initially involve individuals small groups willing go beyond “academia

Language: Английский

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Rethinking academia in a time of climate crisis

eLife, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Feb. 7, 2023

Addressing the climate crisis requires radical and urgent action at all levels of society. Universities are ideally positioned to lead such but largely failing do so. At same time, many academic scientists find their work impeded by bureaucracy, excessive competitiveness, a loss freedom. Here, drawing on framework “Doughnut Economics,” developed Kate Raworth, we suggest seven new principles for rethinking norms scientific practice. Based these, propose call action, encourage academics take concrete steps towards creation flourishing enterprise that is fit challenges 21 st century.

Language: Английский

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“No research on a dead planet”: preserving the socio-ecological conditions for academia

Frontiers in Education, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: Oct. 6, 2023

Despite thousands of higher education institutions (HEIs) having issued Climate Emergency declarations, most academics continue to operate according ‘business-as-usual’. However, such passivity increases the risk climate impacts so severe as threaten persistence organized society, and thus HEIs themselves. This paper explores why a maladaptive cognitive-practice gap persists asks what steps could be taken by members activate academy. Drawing on insights from psychology sociology, we argue that process ‘socially denial’ currently exists within universities, leading experience state ‘double reality’ inhibits feelings accountability agency, this is self-reenforcing through production ‘pluralistic ignorance.’ We further these processes serve uphold cultural hegemony ‘business-as-usual’ worsened increasing neo-liberalization modern universities. Escaping dynamics will require deliberate efforts break taboos, frank conversations about responding emergency means for universities’ – individual academics’ core values goals.

Language: Английский

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Climate change engagement of scientists

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(10), P. 1033 - 1039

Published: Aug. 5, 2024

Language: Английский

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Deciphering the relationship between temperature and immunity

Discovery Immunology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Fever is a hallmark symptom of disease across the animal kingdom. Yet, despite evidence linking temperature fluctuation and immune response, much remains to be discovered about molecular mechanisms governing these interactions. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, it clinically accepted that joint can predict progression. But was only recently demonstrated mitochondria stimulated T cells rise an extreme 50°C, potentially indicating cellular source localized 'fevers'. A challenge dissecting bidirectional interplay between immunity. Heat shock response found in virtually all organisms, activating protective pathways when are exposed elevated temperatures. However, threshold activates vary within same organism, human cells, particular, demonstrating differential sensitivity heat. Such inter-cellular variation may relevant given small but significant differences seen tissues, ages, sexes. Greater understanding how such perturbations mediate responses provide new explanations persistent questions as sex disparity prevalence. Notably, prevalence severity many maladies rising climate change, suggesting fluctuations interact on multiple levels. As global temperatures rising, our body falling, regarding temperature-immune interactions increasingly critical. Here, we review this aspect environmental better understand temperature's role subsequent risk disease.

Language: Английский

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Australian young people's perspectives about the political determinants of the climate crisis

Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 35(1), P. 196 - 206

Published: April 11, 2023

There has been little focus on young people's views about the political determinants of climate crisis. As people are likely to be group most impacted by decisions relating crisis, it is essential understand their government decision-making.

Language: Английский

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Actions speak louder than words: the case for responsible scientific activism in an era of planetary emergency

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

The world's understanding of the climate and ecological crises rests on science. However, scientists' conventional methods engagement, such as producing ever more data findings, writing papers giving advice to governments, have not been sufficiently effective at persuading politicians act emergency. To date, governments' decisions (such continuing with vast subsidies for fossil fuels) clearly show that powerful vested interests much influential than amassed scientific knowledge advice. We argue in face this inaction, scientists can maximum amount influence by lending their support social movements pressing action, joining active participants considering civil disobedience. Scientists seeking halt continued environmental destruction also need work through our institutions. Too many organizations, from national academies science learned societies universities, taken practical action climate; example, still partner fuel other compromised interests. therefore outline a vision how reform institutions become agents change.

Language: Английский

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“Beyond being analysts of doom”: scientists on the frontlines of climate action

Frontiers in Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: June 1, 2023

What happens when scientists become activists? In this paper, we discuss the principles, commitments and experiences of Scientist Rebellion (SR), a movement scientists, academics, researchers committed to activism, advocacy non-violent civil disobedience against (in)actions governments, corporations other institutions, including academic ones. sharing from frontlines direct actions with SR along perspectives individual coming variety geographical locations, range levels disciplines, reflect on need transgress boundaries system knowledge production education that is effectively reproducing very structures have led us into climate ecological crises. This article provides reflective critical engagement Rebellion, drawing interviews activists, as well material about Rebellion. We conclude reflection relation between their mobilizing plea scientific community take action.

Language: Английский

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Insights into the ecological and climate crisis: emerging infections threatening human health

Acta Tropica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 107531 - 107531

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

The Anthropocene era is marked by unprecedented human-induced alterations to the environment, resulting in a climate emergency and widespread ecological deterioration. A staggering number of up one million species plants animals are danger becoming extinct, which includes over 10% insect 40% plant species. Unrestrained release greenhouse gases, deforestation, intense agricultural practices, excessive fishing, land use have exceeded boundaries that were once responsible for humanity's wellbeing. As per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), existing policies expected result minimum rise global temperature +2°C, with more recent assessments indicating potential increase +2.9°C. effects change degradation formation diseases complex multiple aspects. Deforestation diminishes biodiversity compels wildlife come into greater proximity humans, hence promoting transmission zoonotic diseases. intensifies these impacts modifying habitats disease carrying organisms, expansion vector-borne such as malaria, dengue, Zika virus previously unaffected areas. Furthermore, amplifies occurrence severity extreme weather phenomena, undermines water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) practices. This creates an environment conducive waterborne cholera densely populated resettlement camps. Climate-induced disasters contribute complexity epidemiological landscapes, exacerbating antimicrobial resistance posing threat modern medical advancements. narrative review investigates connections between ecological-climatic crises emerging illnesses, offering overview how environmental changes outbreaks pose substantial public health.

Language: Английский

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Academic Activism and the Climate Crisis: Should Scholars Protest?

Perspectives on Politics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 16

Published: March 25, 2025

Many academics today struggle with their role in the climate and ecological crisis. Increasing numbers take to streets demand stronger measures, not just as citizens, but scientists scholars. How should we conceptualize evaluate such actions? I examine responsibilities of context offer a defense academic activism that is grounded membership community its special position crisis, specific expertise individual We have responsibility, members community, listen our colleagues’ warnings, let message sink in, reflect on it, it move us action. Such action can many forms, including collective In where warnings are actively thwarted, participating protest an necessarily undemocratic, nor at odds professional integrity.

Language: Английский

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