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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Editorial
Brave new world 2.0
Biogeochemistry, Vol.168(3), pp.1-5
11/06/2025
Metrics
Abstract
“Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth. By simply not mentioning certain subjects... totalitarian propagandists have influenced opinion much more effectively than they could have by the most eloquent denunciations.”
—Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
In 2016, the editors of Biogeochemistry wrote that “the very nature of science and its role in American society is under attack. We believe that well-established scientific consensus in the environmental sciences is being ignored in policymaking, and funding for scientific inquiry that runs counter to political interests is under threat. This political stance favoring ignorance over inquiry fundamentally would, if it is allowed to perpetuate, threaten not only our quality of life but also our future as a species.” We concluded that we were living in dangerous and frightening times, and that scientists needed to step outside the comfort zone of their laboratory and engage with the media, schools, and public discourse. While Huxley’s “silence about truth” benefits those in power who wish for the public to remain ignorant of politically inconvenient truths, environmental issues cannot be satisfactorily addressed if society is not informed of the issues, their causes, and potential solutions.
Details
- Title
- Brave new world 2.0
- Creators
- Kate Lajtha - Oregon State UniversityR. Kelman Wieder - Villanova UniversitySharon A. Billings - University of KansasBrian A. Branfireun - University of Western OntarioJacques C. Finlay - University of MinnesotaSteven J. Hall - University of Wisconsin–MadisonCaitlin Hicks Pries - Dartmouth CollegeKarsten Kalbitz - TUD Dresden University of Technology (Germany, Dresden)Klaus-H. Knorr - University of MünsterChristian Lønborg - Aarhus UniversityJohn Melack - University of California, Santa BarbaraScott C. Neubauer - Virginia Commonwealth UniversityJonathan Sanderman - Woodwell Climate Research CenterJennifer L. Tank - University of Notre DameNaomi S. Wells - Lincoln UniversityMarguerite A. Xenopoulos - Trent UniversityKe-Qing Xiao - Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Publication Details
- Biogeochemistry, Vol.168(3), pp.1-5
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Number of pages
- 5
- Identifiers
- 991013291018602368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Editorial