Limiting scientific inquiry not only jeopardises public safety but also undermines trust in the authorities responsible for managing such crises
The recent instance of the Kerala government's contentious gag order banning scientific institutions from studying the land slide-affected areas of Wayand has been met with resistance from the scientific community and civil society. Hours later, the order was withdrawn at the behest of the state's Chief Minister. But what is still worrying is how a government or a bureaucrat drafts such an insane order restricting the scientific community from undertaking any studies at Meppadi Panchayat, Wayanad, where the multiple landslides occurred on the morning of July 30 and airing their views to the media. Whatever has happened in Wayanad in the Western Ghats region or the Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh in the Himalayan belt is due to the hiding of scientific information from the public.
If scientists communicate with the public rather than politicians or policymakers, it brings more validity and acceptance to society. Once we take the public into confidence, it can bring positive changes to society.
These occurrences have emphasised the urgent requirement for thorough catastrophe planning and response methods, encompassing catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis, industrial mishaps, and pandemics. An essential component in formulating these strategies is the implementation of scientific research carried out at disaster sites. Research conducted at catastrophe sites can improve preparedness and response techniques, ultimately preserving lives and mitigating economic losses in future occurrences. Imposing restrictions on scientific study threatens the general population's safety and erodes people's confidence in the authorities and organisations responsible for managing disasters. Freedom of scientific expression is crucial for all types of scientific research. To foster the continuous acquisition of knowledge, it is essential to create an atmosphere where scientists can openly communicate their ideas, exchange discoveries, and provide constructive criticism to one another without any concerns about being censored or facing negative consequences.
Impeding scientific studies and suppressing the freedom of expression within the scientific community presents a severe danger to the advancement and credibility of Science. Science and scientific facts reveal the truth because researchers conduct systematic studies. In that case, why should one hide it from the media or the public? Unfortunately, every scientist in the country needs approval from their higher-ups to publish a paper or even a popular science article.
A committee of few who don't have any work except criticising others oversees the author's creativity. It's a pathetic situation. It's like making things more complicated so that no one dares to venture into new things. Over the past few years, there has been a concerning increase in the occurrence and severity of catastrophes, including those caused by nature and human activities. These occurrences have emphasised the crucial requirement for thorough catastrophe planning and response methods. During the Joshimath sinking incident, there were reports of ISRO satellite images that showed that many parts of the Himalayas, including the famous Shimla ridge, were sinking. Unfortunately, that report soon vanished from the public domain. Had the information been available, people would be prepared to move from these regions instead of clinging to it.Restricting scientific investigation and hiding the information can lead to misinterpretation by unscrupulous historians, who may distort the true scientific explanations of natural disasters for their interest. This could harm future generations' comprehension of the scientific causes underlying these calamities.
(The writer is an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru. Views are personal)
