How Good Is Science?

Over three decades, Daniel Sarewitz’s research and writings at the intersection of science, technology, society, policy, and politics have shaped the views of countless scholars and policy makers. In How Good Is Science?, he confronts the complex, often uncomfortable tensions between science, society, and politics in a world increasingly shaped by rapid technological change and uncertain truths. In six parts, Sarewitz probes the uneasy coexistence of predictive science and decision-making, the evolving responsibilities of scientists, and the political and institutional frameworks that guide scientific endeavor. From climate change to science policy, he explores how science can illuminate, but not always resolve, the challenges of modern life. Rather than offering easy solutions, this body of work, selected and edited by Roger Pielke Jr., equips readers with tools to understand and navigate the conflicts that define science’s role in a pluralistic and often polarized society. Anchored in a belief in education, intellectual freedom, and human potential, this book is ultimately a call to action: to foster the societal conditions in which science not only survives, but thrives, for the good of all.