Science for the People: The dual nature of Science

Science for the People is an organization dedicated to building a social movement around progressive and radical perspectives on science and society. We are STEM workers, educators, and activists who believe that science can be a positive force for humanity and the planet. Science is not an abstraction removed from society. Science is produced by our labor. But the conditions of this production and the use of science are not controlled by the general public. Science has been used historically against marginalized communities for example to justify racism. Today, we see anti-scientific movements such as anti-vaccines arising out of the mistrust between the scientific community and the people. We must ensure that science serves all people, including the most marginalized. Until this is addressed, the STEM field will lack diversity and any solutions to this are patches. While knowledge is won with our labor and can be used to advance common goals, we recognize that technical knowledge alone never delivers justice. Because of this, our members are committed to educating scientists and university students about the role that science and technology play in shaping the world, and using our knowledge to work with specific grassroots campaigns.