I've been thinking about this the whole weekend. Been working on this for at least 15 years, even wrote a book about it, but it's always good to sit down and try to think it over from scratch.
Sometimes I think I'm wrong and I´m crazy, sometimes that I´d be crazy not to do this. I see no better way to spend my intellect than to pursue with humbleness and insistence how science can improve the way it helps drive society.
What are we -scientists as supply and society as demand- not doing that we should? Candidly, less talk, more action.

There is a growing and urgent need for a new kind of scientist – one who is skilled in applying not just knowledge but above all scientific skills to solve real-world problems, outside of academia or research. The fact is that many of our global drivers are complex, interrelated, dynamic, and strongly underpinned by science processes. Let´s see some examples: The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the compounding effect of interrelated progress in many fields from AI to Big Data, IoT, or cloud. Climate change and its impact (and opportunity) to drive positive change, like mitigation via more efficient factories or adaptation measures like green city spots that lower the temperature and improve our health. Sustainability and the need to play the interrelation of people and planet. These are just some quick examples. 

We need someone next to key decision makers. Someone whose job, and skills, is to absorb complexity, suggest and support decisions. Not just to explain the latest knowledge, but also understand the business drivers, the culture, the diplomacy, ... Someone like a data scientist with an MBA, a Fortune 100 C-level with a PhD, ... There are not many like these today. 

Every day I read the news and I see examples of this need. Also, with every client conversation on my consulting these day. Or when I reflect on what was most useful in previous roles I had. I'm ever more convinced that gap increases, that there has never been a greater need, and opportunity, for scientific skills (not white coats) in the board rooms and government cabinets.

Unfortunately, this role is often neither available nor asked for, as most of society still see science as purely research-oriented knowledge creation, and on the other side most scientists are trained, skilled and focused on academia. This narrow perspective on both sides not only limits the potential impact of science in solving real-world problems, but it also puts companies and governments at risk of falling behind or being blind in a rapidly changing landscape.

Fortunately, there are examples of companies and governments that are successfully leveraging the power of this kind of scientist to drive progress, respond to urgent challenges, and create a better future. For instance, the covid pandemia has forced many institutions, and scientists, to collaborate in new operational ways, to assess best options in a complex balance between public health and a running society. Companies like Microsoft, Stripe or Apple have hired scientists into C-level decision-making process, resulting in groundbreaking informed, evidence-based strategies that have proven tremendously effective, positive, and profitable. 

I have a diverse background and extensive experience in seeing this potential in this new role of Science: Astrophysics PhD and NASA rocket scientist as academic, I've since held leadership positions in the public sector (World Bank), private sector (Microsoft, Mapbox, Satellogic), and NGOs (Global Adaptation Institute). I have also built and managed these new-kind-of-scientist teams at all these institutions for over 15 years. Based on my professional experience, I have also published a book, "Impact Science: The science of getting to radical social and environmental breakthroughs," which delves into this need for a new kind of scientist and recounts plenty of my personal stories exploring this new space. I also offer consulting services through ImpactScience.dev helping organizations leverage this new power of impact science, or impact architect, as it has been called.

As our unprecedented challenges and opportunities continue to evolve and gain urgency, now is the time to accelerate the change towards a new kind of scientist impact. To fully realize the potential of this shift, we need a powerful convening platform to further define, develop, test, and deploy the ideas and solutions that will drive progress and create a better future. 

What do you think? How do we do this?