I think therefore I am.... Arguably, René Descartes is the father of modern global skepticism.  A philosopher, mathematician and a key figure in the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century, Descartes started with the sole assumption that he did indeed exist and subjected this assumption to skeptical inquiry in order understand 'what we can know'.  After a somewhat blank slate for a start, this skeptic philosopher grounded his philosophy (eventually) in a fixed point in absolute certainty-God.

Far from the image of “lab rats”, resisting contact with the outside world, many scientists maintain a demanding schedule of international travel.  Whether to present their work, cultivate collaborations, or cement relationships with colleagues, these researchers are always on the move.  But all of this transport takes a toll on the environment and on the budget.  What value does it add, and is it still justified?

It’s obvious that the economic crisis we are suffering is affecting science. We are seeing science budgets shrink quite quickly all around the world. We are seeing scientists struggling to find money to do their research. We are seeing a decrease in the trust of governments and institutions in research. And this is going to last for a while. But it is in moments like this that creative ideas arise.

As more and more researchers take part in bringing their science to the public, social media provide a wealth of tools for making contact.  Still, it is important to remember that the target is real people on the other end, with a desire and a need to understand.  The diversity of this community also means diversifying the approaches, with new ideas and old favorites, in order to connect most effectively with groups of different needs.

It is well known that the dialogue between science and society is still difficult. Scientists are often criticized for their attitude for living in their laboratories without any contact with the external world; on the other hand, society seems to absent-mindedly follow the destinies of scientists but constantly calls them to tackle world-wide issues concerning, for example, health, quality of life and environment. In fact, degenerative diseases, nanomaterials and global warming are considered scientific revolutions: as a matter of fact, such paradigmatic turning-points will deeply modify our behavior and lives, therefore they are rather social challenges.