What is science and who is a scientist in the 21st century?

Published on November 20th, 2024

In the 21st Century, as humanity and the Earth face crises of survival and sustainability, we must fundamentally rethink the values that science and technology aspire to, their social roles and methods, and the norms of scientists. This rethinking will likely lead to significant changes in the 200-year history of modern science, which has been institutionalized since the early 19th Century. 

By the mid-19th Century, the methods of inquiry of modern science were formalized, and the professional identity of the “scientist” was established. In the 20th Century, the institutional system of government support for science and technology was strengthened in earnest. Science and her applications came to make significant contributions to people's lives and social progress. 

However, science and technology also became deeply entangled with politics and warfare. World War I is known as the “War of Chemistry,” and World War II as the “War of Physics,” reflecting the instrumental role of science and scientists in developing destructive technologies. This led to a crisis of public trust, as scientists’ discoveries contributed to weapons with the potential to destroy humanity. 

The Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 reignited public concern about the dangers of scientific and technological advances. Similarly, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have become testing grounds for the latest innovations in science and technology. This raises critical questions: Are we making rational decisions in line with scientific thinking? Does science serve humanity, or does it pose a threat to our survival? The issue of “good and evil” in science must be seriously considered by the scientific community. 

In response, the scientific community has globally taken three important steps from the beginning of the new Century to address these fundamental challenges. First, in 1999, “the World Conference on Science for the 21st Century: a New Commitment” adopted the “Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge (called “Budapest Declaration”)”, set forth a major purpose for science not seen in the past two centuries from “science for knowledge” to “science for society.”, reflecting deep thinking on the role of science and technology in the world wars of the 20th century. Although initially met with resistance from some academic communities, this new value for science has gradually gained acceptance as a guiding philosophy. 

Second, the unanimous resolution of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 set ambitious targets for addressing global challenges like poverty, hunger, climate change, and urbanization. How can we achieve these lofty 17 goals? Expectations for the potential of science and technology are high,.and achieving these goals requires the synthesis of knowledge from all scientific disciplines and the development of new approaches that take into account regional, cultural, and historical contexts, signalling a departure from conventional scientific methods 

Third, the establishment of the International Science Council (ISC) in 2018 marked a historic moment in modern science. The ISC, formed by the merger of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC), created a global platform to redefine the role and responsibility of science and scientists in the rapidly changing times. This platform enables thoughtful discussions about the public nature of science and encourages collaboration across disciplines and borders. The hope is that the ISC will evolve into an open, action-oriented space for diverse stakeholders to reimagine science. 

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry, awarded to the field of AI, represents a landmark moment for 21st-century science. While this decision may face resistance from traditional academic circles, AI has the potential to revolutionize scientific research, address social problems, and reshape industries. Will AI contribute to people's happiness and social well-being, or conversely, will it follow the same history as nuclear technologies?　Scientists and engineers must engage in open dialogue with stakeholders to ensure AI is developed and used responsibly for the benefit of humanity. 

Philosopher A.N. Whitehead once described the 19th century as "the century in which the scientific method was invented." Looking ahead, it is hoped that the 21st Century will be remembered as "the century that developed new knowledge, methods and spirits in science and technology to address the climate crisis and security challenges." To achieve this, it is essential to continually ask, "Who is a scientist?" The ISC and the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) have proposed redefining the role of the scientist to include “knowledge synthesizers,” “knowledge brokers,” and “knowledge communicators” alongside traditional “knowledge generators.” This inspiring proposal must be openly discussed and embraced by society and the scientific community. 

As the modern science era, which began with the 17th-century scientific revolution, draws to a close, a new chapter is opening for science in the 21st Century. This new science holds the potential to shape the future of humanity and the earth. 

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