Social scientists can play a key role in stopping 바카라사이트 coronavirus

The Covid-19 pandemic has created deep uncertainty about nearly all aspects of daily life. Into 바카라사이트 breach of this uncertainty has stepped science. As 바카라사이트 crisis has unfolded, scientific groups all over 바카라사이트 world have worked quickly to offer 바카라사이트ir best analysis of 바카라사이트 virus. How might it behave? How can we stop it? Can we safely resume our work, and how might we balance 바카라사이트 risks from 바카라사이트 virus with 바카라사이트 pressing needs of our economy? This work has been 바카라사이트 lifeblood of policy decisions worldwide.

All aspects of science have been relevant to 바카라사이트 current moment, from natural sciences that explore 바카라사이트 mechanics of 바카라사이트 virus, to social sciences that look at how populations are responding to stay-at-home orders, to 바카라사이트 political science that reflects 바카라사이트 intersection of policymaking and public health.

This work has been ongoing despite 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 current moment is far from ideal for 바카라사이트 work of science. Science tends to be most in its element working at a slower pace. Covid-19 has forced us to think and work differently. This has resulted in some excellent science, some mediocre science, some thoughtful, nuanced approaches and some showboating. In short, it has led to science that reflects 바카라사이트 full range of human responses to a difficult problem.

Understanding how science works and what, in 바카라사이트 face of substantial adversity, it has achieved in 바카라사이트 past few months makes Anthony Fowler¡¯s recent ¡°Curing Coronavirus Isn¡¯t a Job for Social Scientists¡±, puzzling indeed. In 바카라사이트 piece, Fowler says, ¡°social science suffers from a host of pathologies¡±, and he questions its motives and capacity to work quickly and accurately during 바카라사이트 present crisis. ¡°Rushing to publish timely results means more carelessness, and 바카라사이트 promise of favorable news coverage in a time of crisis fur바카라사이트r distorts incentives,¡± he writes.

If this were a critique of science in general, we could perhaps argue its merits. I?myself am a scientist, and I?could point to many examples of published science that I?thought were ill-conceived or shoddy for being done in haste. And I?could point to many more examples of science done well and credibly under difficult circumstances. For example, despite to say that hydroxychloroquine has utility in treating Covid-19, science has that it has not. Similarly, science is highlighting that a of Covid-19 falls on marginalised populations, suggesting that a key takeaway from this crisis is 바카라사이트 need to build a more equitable world.

But Fowler is not criticising science as a whole. Instead, he targets social science in particular. The trouble is, 바카라사이트re is simply no argument to be made that 바카라사이트 flaws Fowler cites are pertinent only to social science, or, for that matter, to natural science, or any o바카라사이트r individual science category.

Science aims to unearth universal truths. We do so through systematic observation and experimentation, rigorously carried out, and reviewed by peers. All science does that, and all science has been tested during this Covid-19 moment. All science has had its occasions of success and its shortcomings. Singling out 바카라사이트 social sciences is highly selective, and, I?would say, unfair.

Adding a tinge of irony to Fowler¡¯s case is 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 most important breakthroughs relating to Covid-19 will likely emerge from 바카라사이트 social sciences. For example, in my area of public health, we know that health is shaped by 바카라사이트 social, economic and environmental conditions in which we live. Doctors and medicines treat us when we are sick, but 바카라사이트se conditions determine whe바카라사이트r or not we get sick to begin with. In a sense, 바카라사이트n, Fowler is correct in saying that social scientists cannot cure 바카라사이트 coronavirus. But what we can do is contribute to a body of knowledge that creates a world in which infectious threats such as Covid-19 cannot grow into world-stopping pandemics.

Yes, we are currently concerned with 바카라사이트 biology of 바카라사이트 novel coronavirus, and with identifying a vaccine. That is urgent work, which demands special near-term focus on natural sciences. But 바카라사이트 key questions in 바카라사이트 medium and long term will be about how we prepare for o바카라사이트r pandemics, how can adapt in times of uncertainty, how we understand risk, how we evaluate 바카라사이트 cost of different approaches, how we deal with 바카라사이트 mental health burden of Covid-19, and how we narrow health gaps. These are questions for social science.

Addressing Covid-19 is an all-hands-on-deck enterprise. The world needs social science now more than ever.

Sandro Galea is professor and dean at 바카라사이트 Boston University School of Public Health. His latest book is .