by Tracey Elliott
Activism is not easy for many of us. Stepping out of our comfort zone - whether it's a lab, field station, office, or even home – can be unnerving. Often more introvert than extrovert, scientists are trained to be focused, neutral and dispassionate. In our pursuit of expertise, some of us have a tendency to be purist; manifestly feeling uncomfortable taking a stance on the climate crisis or on nature loss if we are not actually climate scientists or ecologists ourselves. In a thirst for new knowledge, objectivity can sometimes trump subjectivity. This pursuit of expertise and of maintaining political and emotional detachment has arguably marginalised the science community from mainstream discourse, and risks undermining the urgency and legitimacy of what the science has been telling us for decades.
Scientist activists recognise this risk of marginalisation and often support social movements campaigning for urgent and transformational societal change. We do this as experts or (more often than not) in our capacity as scientifically trained and data-literate citizens. One such social movement is the National Emergency Briefing (NEB). The beauty of this initiative is (at least) fourfold:
1. It is underpinned by up-to-date evidence of nine experts in key scientific disciplines and in economics and national security.
2. It is very much of the moment with over 5,225 (and growing) screenings of its keystone film, the People's Emergency Briefing (PEB), nationwide.
3. It is inclusive, secular and apolitical, bringing multiple communities together under one comprehensive, integrated banner of the climate and nature emergency.
4. It is well-resourced, providing a wealth of "how to" guidance and materials to organisers, hosts and facilitators across local communities, workplaces and - soon - schools.
In short, activism is handed to us on a plate! And if that wasn’t enough, our colleague, Abi Perrin, has produced tailored guidance to help academics screen the film in their own institutions (here). The NEB provides the perfect initiation for a budding activist, the perfect refresher for a rusty one, and a positive breeze for a seasoned one; whether scientist or non-scientist. If you are reading this, then you probably fit into one of these categories.
I was fortunate to be able to attend the original NEB event in November 2025, when we heard from the experts firsthand (it was electrifying) and I have watched it grow these past 11 months. In many ways, it has been a revelation for me, coming late in the day to activism. I have worked at the traditional science policy interface for 25 years or so, but I think the NEB is rare in that it makes a concerted effort to (1) look at the evidence base for the climate and nature emergency comprehensively, holistically and intelligibly, and (2) bridge the gap between people and politics, at scale. It endeavours to inform and empower citizens to overcome their frustration, scepticism, fear and anger in today's politics and use their democratic and social power, together.
In engaging with the NEB, I have connected with local, community activism. I am a member of a diverse group of constituents, all united in our concern about the climate and nature emergency. We have forged ourselves, quite organically, into an effective organising team. We've hosted three local screenings - in a church, cinema and community centre - and plan to do more. I am now more aware of local initiatives and learning about local politics. I feel more assimilated into my local constituency and, even with my limited scientific knowledge, realise I know more than many others about the climate and nature emergency thanks to my scientific training and data literacy, if not expertise per se. I am also learning about the psychology of climate change and how people process difficult information in different ways, which helps make me a more tolerant person! It’s an enriching experience in multiple ways, and apparently more relatable to family and friends than my career at the science policy interface ever was!
Thanks to the insight I have gleaned from Scientists on Survival and using the NEB as a tool for wider societal engagement, I am a more visible and (I hope) trusted “scientist”, and certainly a more active and engaged citizen. The perfect complement.
As the NEB approaches its one-year anniversary, support it if you haven’t already!
And if you’d like to explore the how science activism and local activism can complement one another, or share your own experience, then please register for our SoS zoom chat on Monday 14 December (here).
