Session TM23

TM23 | The Myth of Neutrality: Geoscience Responsibility in Times of Global Conflict

The Myth of Neutrality: Geoscience Responsibility in Times of Global Conflict

Convener: Stefano Corradini | Co-conveners: Marco Cervino, Claudia D'Oriano, Chloe Hill, Alessia MatanoECSECS, Tomaso Esposti Ongaro

Mon, 04 May, 19:00–20:00 (CEST)

Room 0.49/50

In the current geopolitical landscape, the anachronistic view of science as a "neutral space" detached from political and ethical implications, is further exposing its profound limitation. This debate is not new: over seventy years ago, the Russell-Einstein Manifesto reminded the scientific community that technological and theoretical advancements cannot be separated from their consequences on human beings, urging us to 'remember our humanity and forget the rest'. Despite this and a growing body of evidence and epistemologic debates during the last decades, science is still seen as a value-free vacuum within our institutions and for many scholars. However, geoscientists are often drawn to intersect their activities with territories and people affected by conflicts and systemic violations of international law, or with regions scarred by extractive violence and resource exploitation.

This Townhall meeting aims to create a safe and productive space to discuss the transition from a passive "scientific diplomacy" to an active "ethical accountability" within research institutions and international scientific societies.

The goal is to identify collective commitment elements with the help of EGU community, urging researchers to recognize their role, responsibility, and power in the construction of a society that respects human rights and international law. Participants are invited to contribute to the development of a declaration addressing the non-neutrality of science,
the refusal to collaborate with institutions involved in war operations, respect for international law and the construction of solidarity programs for scientific/academic communities in conflict zones.

Drawing inspiration from recent mobilizations across various prestigious scientific journals (such as The Lancet and Nature), academia and research institutions, and aligned with the European Charter for Researchers, we propose a shift in focus from "research integrity" (avoiding fraud) to "research responsibility" (avoiding complicity, fostering our humanity).

We will use collaborative methods (E.g. Brainwriting, Dot Voting, etc, with a strict time control to assure a result)
to maximize opportunities for everyone to share their view on the issues under discussion: scientific practice should be impartial but not neutral, institutional silence in the face of documented atrocities can be interpreted as a form of
connivance.

Making use of the “body or virtual positioning technique”, attendees will address critical
and controversial points raised by the global scientific community, including:

● Beyond Neutrality: Discussing the non-neutrality of science and why the "apolitical" stance is no longer viable when research infrastructure and academic communities are being systematically destroyed (the so-called "scholasticide").
● Ethical Procurement and Due Diligence: Tackling how to implement protocols to prevent institutional complicity with entities involved in conflicts condemned by international bodies and development/exploitation of dual-use technologies.
● The Dilemma of Cooperation and the “conscientious objection”: Addressing how to respond to calls, also coming from dissident scholars within affected regions, for a critical review of cooperation agreements with institutions implicated in violations of humanitarian law.
● Environmental Legacy of War: Using our expertise to monitor and denounce the long-term consequences of conflict, ranging from the contamination of air, soil and water resources to the massive production of toxic debris.

The oral presentations are given in a hybrid format supported by a Zoom meeting featuring on-site and virtual presentations. The button to access the Zoom meeting appears just before the time block starts.