The New Era of Environmental Science | Milton Muldrow | TEDxDover

Summary

The speaker discusses the rapidly changing world and the urgent need for environmental scientists to adapt. In this new era, scientists must communicate effectively with the public, address ethical concerns around biotechnology, and confront the challenges of climate change. The speaker emphasizes the importance of engaging everyone, avoiding political divides, and finding practical, inclusive solutions. Scientists must admit their own environmental impact while inspiring public support for bold goals, such as restoring ecosystems. The future of environmental science will also require strong data analysis, programming, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The world is rapidly changing with environmental crises like mass extinction and ecosystem collapse threatening our planet.
• 🧑‍🔬 Modern environmental scientists must be excellent communicators to effectively convey their findings to the public, who often fund their work.
• 🎯 The scientific community must set realistic goals for ecosystem preservation, balancing innovation with acceptance of Earth's changing conditions.
• 🧬 Biotechnology and genetics may play a key role in addressing environmental problems, but ethical questions and decisions need to be addressed.
• 📊 Data science and programming skills are becoming increasingly essential in environmental science, especially with the growing amount of data collected but under-analyzed.
• 👥 Scientists need to communicate better with the public and policymakers, especially to promote trust and behavioral changes needed for environmental solutions.
• 🌡 Climate change is real, and countries like China are leading in solar technology, while some still debate its validity.
• 🏫 There is a lack of public understanding about what it takes to become a scientist, with many unaware of the years of study and dedication involved.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Diversity and inclusivity in environmental science are both moral and practical imperatives for ensuring the field's continued relevance and success.
• 🚀 A Silicon Valley-like urgency and innovation are necessary in environmental science to tackle challenges like deforestation, reef destruction, and ecosystem decline.

Q & A

What are the key challenges facing environmental scientists today?

The key challenges include dealing with mass extinction, ecosystem collapse, and adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions like ocean warming and acidification. Scientists must also focus on effective communication and policy advocacy to address these issues.

Why are communication skills essential for the new generation of environmental scientists?

Communication skills are essential because environmental scientists must convey their findings effectively to the public and policymakers, who often fund their research. Clear communication is crucial for influencing behavior and policy changes to tackle environmental problems.

What are some of the ethical dilemmas environmental scientists face regarding biotechnology?

Scientists must grapple with the ethics of using biotechnology, such as genetic engineering and cloning, to address environmental problems. For example, there is debate over whether humans should genetically engineer coral reefs or attempt species de-extinction, and how such technologies should be used responsibly.

How does the speaker suggest environmental scientists approach the concept of ecological baselines?

The speaker suggests that the scientific community must decide what ecological baselines are achievable in a changing world. Instead of striving for a 'glorious phantom ecosystem' that may no longer be possible, scientists may need to adjust expectations and goals based on the new environmental realities.

What is the significance of data analysis and programming skills in modern environmental science?

Data analysis and programming skills are increasingly important as large amounts of environmental data are collected but remain unanalyzed. Skills in quantitative analysis, programming, and artificial intelligence can help scientists find patterns in complex datasets and contribute to more impactful research.

What does the speaker say about the public's understanding of scientists and the scientific process?

The speaker notes that the public often lacks understanding of what it takes to become a scientist, including the many years of education and research required. There is also a misconception that scientists always agree on issues like climate change, when in reality, scientific progress involves debate and differing viewpoints.

Why does the speaker mention the decline of the Great Eastern Forest and coral reefs?

The decline of these ecosystems is used as an example of how the Earth is changing and how current conservation efforts are insufficient. These declines highlight the urgency of addressing environmental problems and the need for innovative solutions.

How does the speaker view the relationship between environmental science and politics?

The speaker emphasizes that environmental science is deeply connected to politics, as many solutions require policy changes. Scientists must engage with both the public and policymakers to ensure their work is understood and supported, and to influence policy decisions that can mitigate environmental damage.

What role does the speaker believe diversity plays in environmental science?

The speaker stresses that diversity is both a moral and practical necessity. Environmental science must engage people from all backgrounds to ensure that different perspectives are included and to maintain public support for scientific endeavors. Without broad engagement, the field risks losing relevance and public funding.

What comparison does the speaker make between environmental science and the Apollo missions?

The speaker draws a parallel between the drive to reach the moon during the Apollo missions and the need for a similar level of passion and determination to address environmental issues like saving the Amazon or coral reefs. Clear goals and public imagination are essential to inspire action.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Rapidly Changing World and the Role of Environmental Science

The world is facing rapid changes, from mass extinction to the destruction of ecosystems. Modern environmental scientists must possess strong communication skills to convey their findings to the public, who often fund their work. The scientific community must decide on realistic ecological baselines in light of warming oceans and ecosystem degradation. Biotechnology and genetics could play a crucial role in environmental problem-solving, but ethical concerns need to be addressed. The need for effective communication with the public and policymakers is emphasized, especially given the current political climate.

05:00

🎓 Understanding the Path to Becoming a Scientist

Many people are unaware of the long and difficult path to becoming a scientist, which involves years of education, often in poverty. A typical journey includes 4-5 years of undergraduate studies, 2-3 years for a master’s degree, and another 4-5 years for a PhD. Scientists are not driven to agree with one another, and healthy debate is a part of the scientific process. Data collection has always been interdisciplinary, and the next generation of scientists will need strong quantitative and programming skills to analyze the vast amounts of data being collected.

10:01

🧑‍🔬 The Role of Data and Quantitative Skills in Future Environmental Science

Environmental science is evolving with the introduction of new technologies, like NASA's imaging tools for large-scale coral reef surveys. As scientists gather more data, many are now focusing on analyzing this information with artificial intelligence, detecting patterns that may not have been previously visible. Increasingly, impactful environmental scientists may never need to leave their desks as they process data remotely. The diversity of approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for the success of future environmental research and solutions.

Keywords

💡Mass Extinction

Mass extinction refers to the widespread and rapid decrease in biodiversity on Earth, where many species face extinction simultaneously. In the script, it is mentioned as one of the urgent global issues environmental scientists are grappling with, highlighting the rapid changes happening in ecosystems and the need for swift action.

💡Ecosystem Quality

Ecosystem quality refers to the health and functionality of natural environments, including their ability to support life and maintain biodiversity. In the video, the speaker discusses the necessity of setting realistic ecological baselines and goals, considering changes like ocean acidification and warming. The central question is how much of the ecosystem can realistically be preserved or restored given these changes.

💡Climate Change

Climate change involves long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels. The speaker emphasizes the importance of communicating the science of climate change effectively, as there is still widespread skepticism, particularly in policy circles like in the U.S., despite overwhelming scientific evidence.

💡Biotechnology

Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or create products, including solutions to environmental problems. The speaker touches on the role of genetics and biotechnology in addressing environmental crises, such as using engineered corals for reef restoration, while also mentioning the ethical challenges that come with advancements in this field.

💡De-Extinction

De-extinction refers to the process of reviving extinct species through genetic technology, such as cloning. The speaker humorously mentions their son's dream of bringing back dinosaurs, using this as an example of the extreme possibilities that biotechnology might offer, while also emphasizing that the conversation around its use in environmental science is still nascent.

💡Communication Skills

In the context of the video, communication skills are vital for scientists to explain their research and findings to the general public and policymakers. The speaker argues that without clear and effective communication, scientific advancements can be misunderstood or disregarded, which is critical in gaining public trust and support, particularly in fields like environmental science.

💡Public Trust

Public trust is the belief the general population has in the integrity and expertise of scientists and their work. The speaker stresses that without the public's trust, scientific endeavors, especially in areas like climate change, will struggle to influence policy and societal behavior. Engaging and educating the public about scientific processes is essential to building this trust.

💡Interdisciplinary Science

Interdisciplinary science involves integrating methods and knowledge from different scientific fields to address complex issues. The video mentions how environmental science has always been interdisciplinary, combining ecology, genetics, policy, and even data science. The speaker highlights the growing importance of fields like data analysis and programming in this new era of environmental research.

💡Quantitative Skills

Quantitative skills involve the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret numerical data. The speaker notes that future environmental scientists will need strong quantitative abilities, especially with the increasing availability of large data sets from technologies like satellite imaging. These skills will help scientists draw insights and develop solutions to environmental challenges.

💡Diversity in Science

Diversity in science refers to the inclusion of people from various backgrounds in scientific research and education. The speaker points out that engaging a broader spectrum of society in science is not only morally right but also essential for its survival. Without broader engagement, public funding may dwindle, and the field could become disconnected from society.

Highlights

The world is rapidly changing, with mass extinction and the threat of entire ecosystems vanishing within our lifetime.

New environmental scientists must have excellent communication skills to effectively share their research, especially since public funding is often involved.

We must decide as a scientific community what ecological baselines and goals are achievable, considering the changing physical conditions on Earth.

The future of environmental science may involve difficult decisions, such as whether to aim for past ecosystem states or adapt to new realities.

Biotechnology and genetics will play an important role in addressing environmental problems, though ethical considerations must be taken into account.

There has been progress in using genetics for conservation, but there is still a lack of drive and momentum in this area.

Environmental scientists must also focus on influencing public behavior and governmental policies, as science alone cannot solve environmental issues.

Climate change serves as a case study of the importance of communicating scientific findings to both policymakers and the public.

Many people are unaware of the rigorous process involved in becoming a scientist, including the years of education and research required.

Scientists are not driven to agree on issues like climate change; disagreement and debate are part of the scientific process.

Data analysis skills, including programming, are becoming increasingly important in environmental science due to the vast amounts of data being collected.

New technologies, such as NASA’s imaging systems, are revolutionizing environmental research by allowing for more comprehensive data collection.

Diversity and inclusion are critical for the future of environmental science, as engaging everyone is both a moral and practical necessity.

Environmental scientists must acknowledge that they too contribute to environmental issues, such as through the use of resources and technology.

Environmental science must adopt a Silicon Valley-like fervor to solve the world's pressing environmental problems, with clear goals and public engagement.

Transcripts

all

right well the world is changing rapidly

that's no secret uh from issues of mass

extinction to the threat of Extinction

of entire ecos systems within our

lifetime no longer May ecologists and

environmental scientists have the

relative luxury to spend a lifetime or

career in the forest as it's cut down

around them or scuba diving over a reef

as it Reeds beneath them this new crop

of environmental scientists uh will be

required to have excellent communication

skills right they're going to have to

have the ability to effectively

communicate their science

uh because the public often funds

them this will require uh new skills as

well as new culture in the

field in this new era of environmental

science we will have to decide as a

scientific community on our ecological

baselines and goals what do we truly

believe we can achieve and maintain in

terms of ecosystem

quality you know the the oceans are

getting warmer and more acidic what do

we realistically think we can achieve in

terms of core Reef restoration as an

example do we stubbornly shoot for some

glorious Phantom

ecosystem despite changing physical

conditions armed with Innovation or do

we concede the fact that the Earth has

changed uh and adapt our our

expectations

accordingly either way we as a community

will have to to start making some

decisions genetics and

biotechnology we should start to explore

more explicitly the role of

biotechnology and genetics in solving

our environmental

problems we also need to Grapple with

the ethics of biotechnology but we're

going to have to start making some

decisions right ideas involving biotech

range uh to the extreme you know in

terms of cloning and de Extinction you a

process in which we bring you know

species back from the dead so to speak

my son back there William he wants to be

a dinosaur scientist right uh and his

lifelong goal he's only seven but he

wants to bring bring dinosaurs back so

you know it's farfetched but you know

y'all haven't seen will yet so he's he's

coming uh there have been few advances

regarding the use of genetics and

conservation uh you know we have made

some steps but I don't sense a

tremendous drive or momentum in this

area should man genetically engineer

reefs through new advances I don't know

although I suspect uh our future

environmental Sciences can

increase uh their value in the job

market if they attain some of these

skills science and policy are becoming

ever more important in environmental

science right

communicating our science to the general

public and our policy makers our

scientists must become skilled

communicators and willing to engage

anyone and that means anyone what we see

in the white house today as it pertains

to science is all of our fault right

that's not a political statement not

necessarily um but uh many solutions to

environmental problems involve

convincing people to change their

behavior avior as well as convincing

governments to change the way they do

business no matter how tremendous our

scientific advances no matter how

brilliant they are if we don't

communicate them uh and people if people

don't trust what we do they fall

flat let's take climate change as a case

study much of the world is operating is

as if climate change is true because it

is right uh as an example you know China

is racing to be the the the you know

dominant in the space of solar panel

production while we're still trying to

figure out if this stuff is

real uh but I must say that we as

scientists you know we must communicate

to the general public even what it takes

to be a scientist you know someone you

know watching the news right watching a

Cable News segment about climate change

may not even understand how to you know

evaluate the qual quality qualifications

of the panelists a lot of people don't

know what it takes to become a scientist

let's say a research scientist at a

university a lot of people don't know

believe it or not that it takes four or

five years of undergraduate work usually

five right in a basic science they don't

know it takes another two or three to

get a master's degree two years is what

it says on a brochure but we know we

know better right uh you know when I was

working on my masters in the Florida

Keys I had set up all my plots in the uh

in the subtropical forest in upper kargo

and then Hurricane Katrina came right

back down and blow them right back down

so I had to go back another excuse to go

to paradise right uh but then after that

right it's another four or five years to

a PhD often okay same issues organisms

die experiments fail takes time after

that you're often you know uh spending

two years as a postdoc okay okay that's

roughly 13 years plus I just outlined in

trying to become a scientist usually

willfully being in poverty right all

because you love your field right okay

there's uh there there's not a lot of

money at that stage general public

doesn't understand

that what they also don't understand

often times is that scientists aren't

driven to agree right they're not driven

to agree on climate change uh I used to

work for the federal government the

National Science Foundation and one of

the most enjoyable aspects of that job

was going to panels right because you

could see scientists arguing over you

know proposals and ideas okay if I could

be the smarty pants to debunk climate

change it's probably going to be good

for my career wouldn't you say right um

scientists aren't driven to

agree uh though we know know no uh no

field is

perfect

data although environmental science has

always been interdisciplinary the

collection of skills the next generation

of environmental Sciences may need maybe

vastly different than the former an

immense amount of data is being

collected by our universities by our

scientific agencies and very little is

being analyzed and this new era of

environmental science

uh it has a big seat at the table for

people with great quantitative skills

even programming skills as an example

coral Coral surveys were trip uh

typically done using scuba in transex

right uh although NASA has just deployed

new technology new imaging technology uh

that you know straps onto an airplane

and thereby they can cover a much larger

expanse in a relatively shorter period

of time

whether it's counting whales from space

crunching ocean data using artificial

intelligence software finding patterns

and unexplored data sets some some of

the most impactful environmental

Sciences of the future may never leave

their

desks diversity uhoh here we

go so uh when a student goes to a school

right they shouldn't feel like the words

in that page alone okay uh not in this

great melting plot with all these

resources but even more than being alone

with that uh uh that word represents is

a lack of distribution of resources okay

I hear a lot of my colleagues in

Academia you know discussing the current

administration's lack of diversity

initiatives and I would I would agree

with a lot of that right uh but then I

think hold on now I remember walking in

in those those hallways alone I REM

remember being told I can't or I won't

right you see reaching out to everyone

is not just a moral decision it's also a

practical

one you know if we don't discuss our way

of thinking with everybody then our way

of thinking may not be around

anymore remember the scientific enterpr

Enterprise is dependent on public

funding okay so if the public is not

part of your way of life or thinking

then your way of life may cease to exist

we must engage

everyone this picture of Appalachia

there why are the science is branded so

strongly

liberal remember the biggest you know uh

spokes person for climate change was Al

Gore and I'm not saying he didn't do

great work but I think we should be

careful careful with the way we brand

ourselves right we can't be seen on one

side or the other today I believe we pay

for our own failure uh to relate some of

our policies uh you know across the

Spectrum for example as environmental

scientists we need to admit a few things

to the general public right we need to

admit to them as Eco dudes that that we

drive right we need to admit that you

know my my iPhone has the same

deleterious compounds as yours uh I

probably fly more than you do my lab

uses a tremendous amount of water right

um and we can also explain to the

general public why we do some of these

things but count ourselves as part of

the problem as well as we work together

as part of the solution rather than

making the general public feel like

we're pointing fingers

okay we need to be more inclusive

because no matter how smart we think we

are evidently we can't do it alone the

decline of the Great Eastern Forest

represent that the decline of reefs all

around the world represent that now Dr

King spoke obviously about the plight of

African-Americans okay but he also spoke

about the poverty in

Appalachia Appalachia is one of the

world's oldest mountain

ranges and it has a different and

diverse culture but today has been

reduced to a uh a

punchline right how many of us told some

of those West Virginia

jokes well West Virginia helped put

those scientific policies in office as

did Pennsylvania and Ohio and so on and

so forth okay

so time to prove it right time to prove

it

lastly in the environmental Sciences we

need to establish an insatiable Silicon

Valley like fervor to solve problems

okay I included this picture here uh of

a footprint on the Moon from one of the

Apollo missions because America's desire

in reaching a goal like that must be

matched by our desire to save the Amazon

save the Great Eastern Forest of the

United States states save the

Reef we must establish clear clear goals

capture the Public's

imagination uh and you know after all

this is the only planet we call home

thank

[Applause]

you