Science in Resistance - by Fernando Racimo

Book Synopsis

Scientists around the world rise up for climate and ecological justice

In April 2022, hundreds of scientists rose in non-violent civil disobedience, breaking the law in more than twenty-eight countries. Risking arrest, they glued their hands to roads, blocked government and corporate buildings, and chained themselves to the White House fence. In Science in Resistance, Fernando Racimo provides a first-person account of the Scientist Rebellion, an international movement of researchers stepping beyond conventional roles to alert the public about the need for action in the climate emergency. Combining personal stories, interviews with scientist-activists, and insights from research on direct action and academia, he explores the challenges scientists face when taking a stand for climate and ecological justice.

Reflecting on his role as a scientist-activist, Racimo describes how he came to be involved in the movement. He also explores the many ways in which academic institutions today are complicit in climate breakdown--whether by accepting funding from and collaborating with the very industries driving it, or by discouraging scientists from speaking up. Drawing on lessons from political science, psychology, ecology, sociology, and the history of science, he explains how academia could be transformed to become an actor for good in the emergency.

From the Back Cover

"There's nothing academics love more than research, so why are so many now sidelining their careers to take to the streets in civil disobedience? Scientist Rebellion has helped spark a revolution in academia, and this compelling, first-hand narrative tells the story from the inside. If you're a researcher and want to have real-world impact, this is essential reading."--Charlie Gardner, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent

"An inspiring call to action! This powerful book reveals the contradictions of academic science and describes the struggles of academic-activists engaging in disruptive action. Through compelling stories and raw honesty, Fernando Racimo breaks the silence by uncovering the repressive norms of science and the constraining structures of universities. This is a must-read for activists, academics, and scientists all over the world!"--Jennie C. Stephens, Professor of Climate Justice, National University of Ireland Maynooth and author of Climate Justice and the University: Shaping a Hopeful Future for All

About the Author

Fernando Racimo is Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolution at University of Copenhagen and a founding member of the Danish chapter of Scientist Rebellion.