Lydia Messling
banner
lydiamessling.bsky.social
Lydia Messling
@lydiamessling.bsky.social
Researcher in Climate Engagement & Strategy | PhD Climate Justice | Faith & Climate | Consulting: https://www.lydiamessling.com
Academia can be hard, lonely, and very discouraging. @christelvaneck.bsky.social is not only phenomenally intelligent, she’s kind, encouraging, and incredibly savvy. Writing papers with her and @yuyaolu.bsky.social has helped me find the joy in research again.
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I should also say that if it were not for @katharinehayhoe.com tagging me in a random post to @christelvaneck.bsky.social on Twitter, then this paper (and a few others) would never have happened. Huzzah for community!
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
These interviews took place back in 2018 as part of my PhD research, and OH BOY was it fun. I was bowled over by people’s generosity and thoughtfulness, and will forever be thankful to my interviewees (listed in the supplementary materials).
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
There’s lots of other delicious quotes packed into this paper – views on funding, speaking as a citizen, the differences for early career researchers, science-based policy, silence as advocacy. If that’s your thing, there’s more in my thesis here: www.academia.edu/43798041/How...
How can climate scientists engage in policy advocacy and preserve their scientific credibility and independence?
Scientists are often wary of engaging in policy advocacy as they fear it may result in the perception of bias in their science or abuse of their position. Whilst advocacy need not always result in bia...
www.academia.edu
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Plus different audiences may interpret things differently and take a different view on whether it’s "all acceptable advocacy", or "out of order". All we’re doing in this table is mapping out the main concerns and their (shared) roots.
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Caveat – don’t use this table as a binary conceptual tool to classify advocacy actions as being either ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Advocacy actions can be driven by multiple justifications.
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Bung them in a table (because who doesn’t love a little table?) and it looks like this:
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Scientists share the same fundamental concerns: 1) to preserve the integrity and credibility of science, 2) to fulfil the role of a scientist (and citizen) in society. These two main concerns emerged as four main justifications for either being in favour of advocacy or against it.
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
What did we find? The arguments that scientists gave in favour of advocacy were the same ones that others used in arguing against advocacy. This might help explain why this topic is hotly contested and sometimes feels like we’re talking past each other.
February 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM