Is science political? Yes, and that's not an inherently a bad thing.

In this episode I try to unpack my thinking on why science is political and more specifically where and why political influences enter the picture. From here I explore how an understanding of these influences can improve scientific research and also ruminate on how this affects science communication aimed at two important audiences: politicians and we the people.

Science is a human endeavor and is subject to all the foibles of human behavior. It's also an amazing example of what humans are capable of. By understanding how it works and why we should care we can maximize the good it does.

• Scientists are building giant ‘evidence banks’ to create policies that actually work
• Why we need a body to oversee how science is used by governments
• Advising governments about science is essential but difficult. So train people to do it
• Science-policy advisers shape programmes that solve real-world problems
• Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries | Nature Human Behaviour
• Societal Preparedness Insights - Global Listening Project
• Vetting Scientific Sources - The Open Notebook
• Science could solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Why aren’t governments using it?
• Science’s big problem is a loss of influence, not a loss of trust

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Many thanks to Freak Motif for the music and Sebastian Abboud for the logo.