No better proof that science is falling short of needed action than climate change. Of course, scientific research has given us invaluable knowledge in theory, but as a strategy to solve it in practice, our approach is falling short of what we need.
Hold on, let me explain why, and how we are trying to do our part with AI for Climate, #AIforEarth.
Science, academia, relies on the principled belief that facts underpin reality, and that the best decision-making is based on those facts. "If only they (who?) did what the IPCC reports say"... However, the reality is that facts don't change the world, people do. People driven by facts yes, but also emotions, incentives, culture, diplomacy, religion... and stories. Ironically enough, academia has proven we don't make fact-based decisions, and that stories trump facts. Some of us invest decades learning facts, but we all have evolved over millennia to react to stories. We scientists should remember that throwing academic papers at problems is correct but of limited effect.
Many scientists, engineers, and researchers are already collaborating with businesses, policymakers, and communities to create change. Indeed, this shift is happening. But is it enough? Enough to solve climate change? If given the choice, do we need any extra effort towards more decimal points on the equations, or do we need to make through science more impactful CEOs, governors, VCs, presidents, ...
Our lives are full of science and tech, but ours is not a world ruled by science nor I think it should be. Life too wonderfully chaotic to be ruled by axioms and corollaries. But ours is neither a world informed enough by science, where the skills of scientific thinking – critical analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and creative problem-solving – are woven into the fabric of decision-making at every level.
All this will require a fundamental shift in the way we educate, train, and encourage all ages and all walks of life. Science needs a new kind of scientist, and society needs to demand a new kind of scientist – one who can translate facts into compelling narratives, navigate complex human dynamics, and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty in the messy work of creating change. [ I talk about all this on my book https://book.impactscience.dev ]
How do we get there? Start with people, through stories, based on facts.
And what better story to tell right now, in this AI hype twist of fate, than a story about AI and Climate. AI and Earth. A story about how we can use the best tools, that only few have access to, and make it freely available, make it so easy to use that everyone can use it to tell their own story. My background is science, and is story telling. Is non-profits and big tech. Is geospatial and AI. From my little corner looking at the world, This is the most important story I feel I can add my contribution. And we are working on that story right now. And is coming in May. That story is called Clay.
Hold on, let me explain why, and how we are trying to do our part with AI for Climate, #AIforEarth.
Science, academia, relies on the principled belief that facts underpin reality, and that the best decision-making is based on those facts. "If only they (who?) did what the IPCC reports say"... However, the reality is that facts don't change the world, people do. People driven by facts yes, but also emotions, incentives, culture, diplomacy, religion... and stories. Ironically enough, academia has proven we don't make fact-based decisions, and that stories trump facts. Some of us invest decades learning facts, but we all have evolved over millennia to react to stories. We scientists should remember that throwing academic papers at problems is correct but of limited effect.
Many scientists, engineers, and researchers are already collaborating with businesses, policymakers, and communities to create change. Indeed, this shift is happening. But is it enough? Enough to solve climate change? If given the choice, do we need any extra effort towards more decimal points on the equations, or do we need to make through science more impactful CEOs, governors, VCs, presidents, ...
Our lives are full of science and tech, but ours is not a world ruled by science nor I think it should be. Life too wonderfully chaotic to be ruled by axioms and corollaries. But ours is neither a world informed enough by science, where the skills of scientific thinking – critical analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and creative problem-solving – are woven into the fabric of decision-making at every level.
All this will require a fundamental shift in the way we educate, train, and encourage all ages and all walks of life. Science needs a new kind of scientist, and society needs to demand a new kind of scientist – one who can translate facts into compelling narratives, navigate complex human dynamics, and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty in the messy work of creating change. [ I talk about all this on my book https://book.impactscience.dev ]
How do we get there? Start with people, through stories, based on facts.
And what better story to tell right now, in this AI hype twist of fate, than a story about AI and Climate. AI and Earth. A story about how we can use the best tools, that only few have access to, and make it freely available, make it so easy to use that everyone can use it to tell their own story. My background is science, and is story telling. Is non-profits and big tech. Is geospatial and AI. From my little corner looking at the world, This is the most important story I feel I can add my contribution. And we are working on that story right now. And is coming in May. That story is called Clay.