Navigating Uncertainty and SETAC’s Commitment to Science and Inclusivity
Tamar Schlekat, SETAC North America Executive Director
Originally published on 10 February. Updated on 19 February.
SETAC remains committed to our principles and values through uncertainty. We are dedicated to supporting our members and working with them to advocate for environmental science and science-informed decision-making. Many SETAC members, including staff at our Society, are feeling the impact of announcements from the newly installed U.S. administration, affecting both our workdays and personal lives. In fact, due to the importance of the U.S. economy and foreign policy, these issues will have global impact and likely will affect all SETACers to some degree.
We are obviously monitoring the impacts of proposed regulations to tax the income of nonprofits, like SETAC, very closely. We are also keeping abreast of announcements of the White House pulling the U.S. out of international multiagency agreements on environmental health issues (e.g., Paris Agreement) and discontinuing support of intergovernmental agencies (e.g., WHO). We are hyper vigilant to news of funding being slashed or frozen, push-back on environmental justice, databases being erased or going offline, whole agencies being dismantled, panels being dissolved, invitation to resign issued to federal workers as well as silencing of those who remain, and other actions. We are heartbroken at the loss of talent due to the mass firing of workers at the federal agencies, the impact on our members, and the ensuing repercussions on environmental health. Finally, we’re keeping our eye on the trajectory of privatization of science.
We are acutely aware of the disruption these issues are causing and their potential long-lasting impact on our members from all sectors and on SETAC as a Society, not to mention the repercussions to SETAC’s mission. Many at SETAC are facing uncertainty, job insecurity, and feelings of vulnerability, and we know we are not alone in the scientific community. The sheer number of orders and ensuing lawsuits indicates that we are better served by pausing, assessing, and organizing before reacting. As such, we should certainly find room for reflection and make space for empathy with others.
On behalf of SETAC, we are in regular communications with leaders of other scientific societies on how best we can collectively and individually navigate these issues. The discussion has focused on how we continue our work and support our members promote science for the public good. The community is hopeful that the legal actions already taking place and advocacy highlighting the economic repercussions of some of the actions at the local level will support societal progress.
Meanwhile, we urge our members in the U.S. to reach out to your Senators and Representatives to take action by calling their offices today. A phone call is the most effective way to ensure your message is heard – staff log every call. Alternatively, email your representatives. In your communication, be sure to talk about job loss, impacts to the local economy, and the health and wellbeing of their constituents. You can find your elected officials and their phone numbers at Congress.gov. Every voice makes a difference.
Now more than ever, the world needs talented environmental scientists like yourself. If you are considering your career choice, please learn about career tracks in environmental science and review the SETAC Career Center for opportunities. If you have not updated your SETAC profile recently, now is the time to log in and do so to connect with others in the community.
To stay the course and keep the focus on SETAC priorities, the SETAC North America 46th Annual Meeting Program Committee is quite busy planning for our meeting in Portland, Oregon. Since many scientific societies holding meetings in the next few months are reporting reduced attendance, we are evaluating how to keep costs down while ensuring that the meeting is available to both in-person and virtual participants. All plenaries and sessions will be recorded to accommodate virtual viewing and asynchronous interaction for those who find they may not be able to join in person. We are looking at ways to reduce the virtual attendance registration fees for those in need of support. Finally, as usual, we are making arrangements to ensure accessibility and inclusion and welcoming spaces at the meeting and within SETAC.
In conclusion, this year promises to be quite demanding for SETAC as we navigate critical environmental challenges in a changing socio-political-economic landscape. SETAC’s work is more important than ever. Staff are committed to work with governance and our members to promote environmental science and science-based decision-making. We are proud to be the global home of environmental scientists and embrace all our members wherever they may be and however they may identify throughout their career journey.
Contact the author: [email protected]