LETTER: Can we turn the public's haze concern into a lasting commitment to science itself?
Climate change is a global concern whose consequences unfold over decades.
Haze is different. It is visible, tangible and disruptive. It brings the consequences of environmental problems directly into people's homes, workplaces and lungs.
Scientific research has documented the health and economic implications of haze in Malaysia.
The Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), for example, has examined its causes and potential solutions, including air-quality monitoring, peatland and water management, and the conversion of biomass into useful energy and materials.
Its work demonstrates that haze is a complex problem requiring scientific, economic and social solutions.
The public may not immediately appreciate the value of atmospheric modelling, satellite observations, epidemiological studies or research into land management.
But when these scientific capabilities help explain where pollution comes from, identify health risks and improve forecasts, their value becomes much easier to understand.
The challenge, therefore, is not simply to communicate science more effectively during a haze episode.
It is to use that episode to demonstrate why a scientifically informed society is better equipped to confront problems before they become crises.
In Malaysia, much of the financial responsibility for scientific research rests with the government and publicly funded institutions. Such support remains indispensable.
Science contributes to public health, industrial competitiveness, food security, environmental resilience and national prosperity. Its benefits extend well beyond universities and laboratories.
Businesses use scientific discoveries to develop products and improve processes. Communities benefit from better knowledge and technologies. Citizens benefit from improved public services and more informed decisions.
The private sector can contribute through research partnerships, corporate donations, endowed research chairs, scholarships, innovation funds and support for scientific institutions.
But corporate participation should not be limited to funding research that promises immediate commercial returns. Companies can also support independent research into public-interest questions, including environmental risks, occupational health and the long-term sustainability of their industries.
The general public, too, can participate. Individual contributions may be small, but collective support can help finance research, science education, citizen-science initiatives and the communication of scientific findings.
The objective is to build a broader ecosystem in which public investment is complemented by private-sector commitment and public participation.
There is, however, an important qualification. People cannot reasonably be expected to support science simply because they are told that science is important.
They must be able to see what their contributions achieve.
Scientific institutions need to explain their work in accessible language, demonstrate its relevance to society and communicate both successes and uncertainties honestly. They must also show how research contributes to better decisions, new technologies and improvements in people's lives.
The haze offers a natural starting point. Imagine a national initiative in which all parties work together to explain the science of air pollution.
How particulate matter affects health, how satellites detect fires, how meteorological conditions influence pollution and how researchers distinguish local pollution sources from transboundary smoke.
Companies could sponsor independent research, support public monitoring initiatives and help develop technologies for pollution prevention and detection.
Universities could open their laboratories to the public and invite researchers to explain their findings. Schools could use local air-quality data to introduce students to environmental science.
The initiative should not disappear when the skies clear.
PROFESSOR DR AHMAD IBRAHIM
Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy
UCSI University
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