Institute Leader Warns of Global Threats to Scientific Independence
Repurposed Article:
Navigating global scientific structures amid wars and autocratic regimes, as seen in Ukraine or the Middle East, calls for a thoughtful approach. The director of the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) emphasizes this, noting the growing pressure on scientific freedom worldwide.
Marine physicist Oliver Zielinski, a member of the Federal and State Science Council, discusses the importance of strategically deciding with whom to share data in light of conflicts. The once open-science principle is shifting, and geopolitical tensions are making data-sharing decisions more critical.
Cooperation in marine, coastal, and polar research with Russia has halted due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This isn't just about reducing risk, but complete disconnection (de-coupling). With Russia's unpredictable actions and the geopolitical landscape, cooperation seems impossible as of now, Zielinski points out. However, the impact on Baltic Sea research is minimal.
Interacting with autocratic states can be beneficial, according to Zielinski. Issues such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss—these extend beyond borders. Yet collaborations need to be chosen more selectively to ensure knowledge transfer's safety. "I still believe in science diplomacy that builds bridges. But the bridges are not as wide or open as before, and there are checkpoints at some points along the way," he explains.
Zielinski points to scientific cooperation with China as an example. A project examining the pollution of Chinese coastal waters by megacities showcases China's surprising openness to German research. Such collaborative opportunities, he argues, should be seized.
The Science Council advises the establishment of a National Platform for Knowledge Security to support scientific actors with quick and unbureaucratic information when assessing knowledge risks. Their recent position paper, "Science and Security in Times of Global Political Upheaval," outlines additional recommendations including:
- Promoting international collaboration: Maintain dialogue and trust in scientific communities, regardless of political strife.
- Establishing clear agreements and regulations: Develop and enforce rules around data sharing and collaboration to protect knowledge.
- Secure data handling: Implement strong security measures for sensitive data.
- Ethical guidelines and oversight: Set ethical standards and monitoring mechanisms to prevent misuse of knowledge.
- Supporting neutrality in science: Encourage institutional neutrality to maintain integrity in research.
- Funding and resource management: Ensure adequate, politically unbiased funding for scientific research.
- Education and awareness: Educate researchers about the importance of knowledge protection and responsibility.
- International frameworks and policies: Develop and follow global standards for data protection and scientific cooperation.
By embracing these strategies, international scientific structures can navigate geopolitical tensions effectively while preserving knowledge protection.
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- In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other autocratic regimes, Marine physicist Oliver Zielinski advocates for the strategic use of scientific collaboration, encouraging the implementation of clear agreements and regulations, such as those pertaining to the sharing of data in therapies-and-treatments research, as outlined in the Science Council's position paper on science and security in times of global political upheaval.
