Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World

Two of the world’s most respected scientists reveal the forces behind the dangerous antiscience movement — and show us how to fight back. From pandemics to the climate crisis, humanity faces tougher challenges than ever. Whether it’s the health of our people or the health of our planet, we know we are on an unsustainable path. But our efforts to effectively tackle these existential crises are now hampered by a common threat: politically and ideologically motivated opposition to science. Michael Mann and Peter Hotez are two of the most respected and well-known scientists in the world, and have spent the last twenty years on the front lines of the battle to convey accurate, reliable, and trustworthy information about science in the face of determined and nihilistic opposition. In this powerful manifesto, they reveal the five main forces threatening science: plutocrats, pros, petrostates, phonies, and the press. It is a call to arms and a road map for dismantling the forces of anti-science. Armed with the information in this book, we can be empowered to promote scientific truths, shine light on channels of dark money, dismantle the corporations poisoning the planet, and ultimately avert disaster.

About the Author :
Michael Mann is Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Penn State. He has received many honours and awards, including his selection by Scientific American as one of the fifty leading visionaries in science and technology in 2002. Additionally, he contributed, with other IPCC authors, to the award of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2018 he received the Award for Public Engagement with Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Climate Communication Prize from the American Geophysical Union. In 2020 he was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences. He is the author of numerous books, including Dire Predictions: understanding climate change and The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars: dispatches from the front lines. He lives in State College, Pennsylvania. Peter Hotez is dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and professor of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, where he is also the codirector of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Medicine, and in 2022 was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Covid-19 vaccine.

Review :
‘Once upon a time, scientists could assume that people would take their hard work, believe it, and put it to use. No longer — as Michael Mann and Peter Hotez make painfully clear, a concentrated assault by special interests has made the work of science painful and perilous. Science Under Siege is a well-researched guide and offers some powerful ideas about how to fight back.’ ‘Science is indeed under siege, and that’s not good for any of us. Here, Peter Hotez and Michael Mann name names. They describe the role of Russia; the Supreme Court Justices, who’ve lost sight of the forest for the disappearing trees; and the like-minded officials who promote nutty conspiracy theories. It’s not too late to do something; it’s time to get things done. Read on.’ ‘In standing up for evidence and truth, Drs Mann and Hotez exemplify the citizen scientists who have been integral to making our country healthier, more sustainable, and — yes — great. Science Under Siege informs us of the peril of not combatting attacks on science and scientists, and urges all of us who care about our shared future to join the fight.’ ‘In compelling detail … the authors provide a clear, persuasive road map … The result is an empowering work in a world that can often feel lost to untruths.’ ‘An impassioned critique … a call to action for scientists to get more involved in the political process and for concerned citizens to pay attention to the dangers of antiscience rhetoric.’ ‘Climate change and cyberattacks threaten our very survival, but an even more insidious force is eating democracy from within: disinformation. Propagandists, lobbyists, and political operatives have hijacked science, turning fact into fiction until millions of Americans reject the reality of climate change — even as wildfires rage, oceans rise, and the planet becomes increasingly uninhabitable. In Science Under Siege, Michael Mann and Peter Hotez expose the machinery behind these deadly lies and call us to fight back — before truth itself becomes collateral damage.’ ‘In our dark times, as we face a frontal assault on science, two revered scientists — Drs. Mann and Hotez — exemplify the warriors courageously speaking truth to power despite serious attacks.’ ‘The vicious and unprincipled war on science is escalating on all fronts. Now two of our most distinguished scientists, who have both been subjected to abuse and threats for their diligence and work, have documented in devastating detail the forces undermining our efforts against climate change and deadly diseases. A must-read if you care about the planet and humanity.’ ‘In Science Under Siege, co-authors Michael Mann and Peter Hotez, leading researchers and advocates in their respective fields of environmental science and immunology, warn that science itself, as a credible and trusted method of establishing truth, is in crisis … This important book does more than simply enumerate and excoriate the forces railing against science and scientists, but offers hope for civilised solutions, from gentle persuasion and rational debate to being heard in the media and at the ballot box.’