How do scientists manage their careers when their jobs and their consciences conflict? Emily Heath, Laurence Kenny and Birgit Völlm explain

Research lacks ethics

Teaching and politics are better, says Emily Heath

Towards the end of my PhD in geochemistry, I became disillusioned with the prospect of a conventional academic career. 

Academic research seemed to be too focussed on the pursuit of knowledge and esteem (or more precisely, publications and grants), whereas I wanted to change the world! And I didn’t want to hasten climate change by travelling to international conferences. I haven’t flown since 1995 and probably never will again.

But I still wanted to make use of my enthusiasm for and knowledge of science. Teaching seemed like an ideal way to do this, and to engage with other people and raise their awareness of environmental and social issues. A green lifestyle is relatively cheap, so I don’t need to work full-time, enabling me to spend time on green activism too.

Political action
My interest in green politics grew from my involvement in environmental pressure groups
– and my growing realisation that most policy-makers always prioritise economic growth over social and environmental justice. I began to feel that it might be more effective to actually be a policy-maker rather than simply to lobby them.

In 1999, aged 26, I won a local election and became a Green Party City Councillor in Lancaster. Councillors do a huge variety of activities, from consulting residents to making policy and budget decisions on land use, transport, housing, waste, and so on. I and my fellow Green Councillors have been instrumental in stopping loss of countryside, improving community facilities, driving up household recycling rates, and much more.

Obviously I’m not going to change the whole world by being a local councillor, but I believe that if people in every community all over the world made the kind of small changes that I’m making, it would add up to a massive shift towards sustainability.

Science in politics
I have found that my scientific training has been really useful in my political life. Councillors often have to read technical reports and understand concepts such as risk, uncertainty, units of measurement, and the reliability of different sources of information. For example, I have had to make difficult decisions about the siting of mobile phone masts and wind farms, how to deal with flood risk, and whether adding fluoride to drinking water is a good idea (I think not!).

I am trying to challenge unsustainable practices at my university too – such as excessive air travel. I feel very uneasy about the increasing commercialisation of university research, which I think generally lacks strong ethical guiding principles. Overall, I’m glad I chose a career in teaching and politics instead.

Dr Emily Heath teaches environmental sciences and geophysics at Lancaster University. She is a Green Party City Councillor

These researchers all contributed to Stuart Parkinson and Vanessa Spedding, eds (2006), Critical Paths: 12 inspiring cases of ethical careers in science and technology (Scientists for global Responsibility)

See also Langley C. (2006), Scientists or soldiers? Career choice, ethics and the military (Scientists for Global Responsibility)