Science vs. Activism? Exploring the Boundary: Perspectives of Young Researchers in Switzerland

In the spring of 2023, as part of the Swiss Young Academy project "Science vs Activism? Exploring the Boundary," we conducted qualitative interviews with 33 young researchers from Switzerland representing various disciplines (28 disciplines: Natural Sciences (45%), Social Sciences (27%), Humanities (27%); mean age = 35; 67% female). The aim was to understand how early-career scholars understand activism in the context of science and how the relationship between science and activism is negotiated in different disciplines. The semi-structured interviews included open-ended questions, which were thematically divided into four categories: (1) the definition of activism and the relationship between activism and science, (2) objectivity in science, (3) forms of activism in science, and (4) the responsibility and impact of activism. The interviews were transcribed and coded using the software MAXQDA. The key findings of the project highlight a range of perspectives and opinions from young researchers in Switzerland regarding the relationship between science and activism. The findings illustrate that activism is a contested term with different value judgments attached to it. Moreover, the data illustrates that debates around science versus activism mask other debates such as the objectivity of science, scientific integrity, and questions of credibility. The following outlines the most significant results.