Can Environmental Sociology Make Climate Scientists Do Better?

• In Event: 50620 - Section on Environmental Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 10: Environmental Sociology Imaginations and Futures

Abstract

This paper argues that environmental sociologists need to explore and engage in transdisciplinary climate research with the goal of empowering climate scientists to advocate for specific climate futures. I use the example of solar geoengineering (SG) research to show that there are opportunities for environmental sociologists to help climate scientists realize the role and power of their knowledge production and shift their research towards socially and politically useful work. I focus on solar geoengineering because this proposed technology has the potential to decisively shape how our world engages with risks of climate change. My argument is based on my observations from the field of geoengineering climate research. I find that SG researchers want to engage in these questions and invite transdisciplinary exchange. They have so far exhibited two responses to critiques: symbolic reframing of existing approaches and research, as well as institutional reflexivity through funding and inclusion of a broader range of researchers. This shows us that there are clear opportunities for sociologists to introduce alternative dimensions to modelers’ perceptions of concepts relevant to research motivations, decisions, and epistemological approaches. For example, significant theoretical work can be done in conjunction with climate scientists to articulate a risk framework that helps drive them towards optimal research decisions. What is needed at this point are tools to make clear to climate scientists that it is not just sociologists’ jobs to figure out if the world will accept SG, that in fact their research is a core process by which the world decides whether they want to use SG or not. I argue that we need to develop theoretical and practical tools that help us to embed sociological insights into the core of climate science research processes so that a false dichotomy between social sciences and atmospheric sciences does not perpetuate.

Author

• Amanda Sie, Rutgers University-New Brunswick