At the end of the Second World War, the Allies had made science one of the pillars of reconstruction and the cement of lasting peace. They were then animated by the deep conviction that knowledge and innovation would protect our barbarism societies. By censoring the research, by amputating his budgets, the American president Donald Trump “flooded the post-war social contract”, recently alerted to L’Express Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the prestigious Science group.
A concern widely shared by the hundred doctors, scientists – including two Nobel Prize winners, the French Alain Aspect and the British Venki Ramakrishnan – and policies gathered by our newspaper this Monday, March 10 for the presentation of his prizes for science and health personalities. On this occasion, the Minister of Health Catherine Vautrin recalled that, “in a world where disinformation proliferates, where doubt sometimes takes precedence over knowledge”, it was necessary to “tirelessly defend the place of science in public debate”. Because Europe and France are not completely immune to such attacks, as said by Professor Alain Fischer, former president of the Academy of Sciences and columnist in L’Express: “Some policies find that Mr. Trump’s ideas are not necessarily stupid, there is a threat of contagion.”
This is already the case in Argentina, Hungary, Brazil … wherever democracies are switching off, research budgets plunge. Like the main principles defended by science – universalism, inclusion or recognition of the contribution of diversity. Under these conditions, one can only worry about seeing many governments, in France and in Europe, draw from the funds allocated to science. “A threat to our sovereignty and our democracies,” also warns the former Minister Agnès Buzyn, who is launching a think tank this week on these issues.
Fight against obscurantism
In this historic moment, Europe has a card to play. Scientists from other continents, worried about being muzzled, turn to us. We must give ourselves the means to welcome them, as Maria Leptin, president of the European Research Council recently called. There is the progress of knowledge in the world, but above all, the interest of the old continent.
Beyond that, French scientists must also take their share in the fight against disinformation, as recalled by Professor Alain aspect, which gave the L’Express Grand Prix on Monday evening. The great physicist has given himself a mission: to make the scientific method understand to the greatest number, and the difference between research and truth in science, to cut short incessant controversies and general relativism. “It is said that science is doubt, but we must not exaggerate, we no longer doubt that the earth is round, he explained. Scientists pose hypotheses, wonder, experience and validate them, or not. At some point a consensus is established, and beyond all reasonable doubts, a result is acquired, which allows to advance”. Profit aspect knows that “he will not be able to convince 100% of the population”. But he hopes to show the greatest number to what extent “science is exciting”. It would be a giant step against obscurantism that threatens us.