Coming Soon on Our Blog: Values and Science Series

A new series will make its debut on the IAPHS Blog within a few weeks.  Our Values and Science series will explore how the confluence of values and science affects two central goals in population health science: to advance knowledge, and to do so in a way that makes a difference in the world.

We look to science to develop knowledge that can be counted on independent of one’s perspective on the world — science tells us what is, rather than what ought to be. However, scientists are human — they necessarily bring particular perspectives and values to their work. In population health science, we often have firmly held opinions about the topics we are studying, even strong moral and ideological commitments.  The new series will explore how the values and ideological commitments of scientists and the research that scientists produce can be intertwined, and implications for how population health science moves forward. We’re hoping for a wide-open and provocative discussion that brings to light the ways in which population health scientists’ perspectives on this topic converge, and how they differ.

The series was initiated by IAPHS Senior Advisor Chris Bachrach and developed with advice from a team of twenty other IAPHS members. It will culminate in a session at the October conference in Baltimore.