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| Sarah C. Reckess, J.D., HEC-C |
Professor Reckess—a legal scholar and ethics
consultant—shared personal stories and national data to illustrate the urgent
need for scientists to become “civic scientists.”
“We know more science than any people in the history of the
world,” Reckess said. “And yet, we’re seeing more uncertainty and skepticism
than ever before. That’s a paradox we can’t ignore.”
Reckess opened with a personal anecdote about her pet goat,
Pixie, who nearly died in 2020 when the deworming medication ivermectin was
unavailable due to widespread misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My goat
needed this medicine, and there was none on the shelves,” she recalled. “The
vet told me, ‘Yeah, everybody’s taking ivermectin for COVID.’”
The story served as a springboard into a broader discussion
about misinformation, the replication crisis in science, and the erosion of
public trust. Reckess emphasized that while scientists are widely viewed as
intelligent, only 45% of Americans consider them good communicators. “Here’s
our problem,” she said. “We’re not just facing a trust crisis—we’re facing a
communication crisis.”
She challenged scientists to rethink their role in society,
urging them to engage in two-way conversations with the public. “What we
thought communication meant was that we should just provide information. But
there hasn’t been enough listening and collaborating,” she said.
Reckess highlighted the importance of civic engagement at
all levels—from volunteering at school science fairs to briefing policymakers
and even running for office. “Only 3% of state-level elected officials have a
background in science, healthcare, or engineering,” she noted. “Wouldn’t it be
great if there was a five in front of that number?”
She also offered practical advice for scientists looking to
improve their outreach: “Can you explain your research in three sentences? Two?
One? Can you remove the jargon and make it matter to someone who hasn’t been in
school for 30 years?”
Despite the challenges, Reckess ended on a hopeful note.
“The public wants to hear from you. They don’t necessarily want you to run the
country, but they do want you whispering in the ears of those who do.”
For more information or to connect with Professor Reckess, she encourages students and colleagues to reach out: “Please don’t be a stranger. Email me or come down the hill—I’ll meet you for lunch if you want to talk.”
About the Speaker: Sarah C. Reckess, J.D., HEC-C, is an
Assistant Professor at Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine in
the Center for Bioethics and Humanities. Prof. Reckess works at the
intersection of policy, law and bioethics and the on-call ethics consultant for
area hospitals.
Professor Reckess earned her Juris Doctorate at Syracuse
University College of Law, with a concentration in Family Law and Social
Policy. She is licensed to practice law
in New York State and in the U.S. Supreme Court. She co- co-director of the
Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership, a collaboration between the Center for
Bioethics + Humanities, University Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic (UPAC), and
Syracuse University College of Law. This interdisciplinary clinic places
student attorneys in the pediatric clinic to address legal issues impacting
child health outcomes, including unsafe housing related to lead, mold, and
asthma.
About the series:
This event was part of the Adaptive Peaks Seminar Series, organized by ESF's Department of Environmental Biology, and the Women in Scientific and Environmental Professions (WiSE) Speaker Series, organized by the ESF Women’s Caucus. For upcoming events, please visit the college calendar.
