A bit of moral support wouldn’t go amiss

Some scientists are more than happy to contribute to the public’s understanding of a complex relationship by explaining it in an intelligible manner. However, when the complex relationships are also political hot potatoes, the position in the front line can be a lonely one.

This is something that professor Jørgen E. Olesen, KLIMA, can concur with. He was for a period in February 2016 in the press on an almost daily basis in connection with the proposed introduction of an agricultural reform package. TV, radio, newspapers, journals and internet media all carried features, interviews, citations, articles and photos of Jørgen who gave his opinion as an expert on the contentious reform package.

Now he relates his experience of the process to Politiken in the article ”Miljøprofessor: ”Man ryger i en mediestorm, der er fuldstændig ude af kontrol” where he says, among other things, that he finds it difficult to gauge what his colleagues think about him going to the media.

- I actually find it quite difficult to talk to them about it. This is also one of the things that pains me, he says to Politiken. To Biweekly, Jørgen explains that he is not the only one to have had that feeling. He has learned that other scientists who have been in the media have felt quite lonely, too.

- This is not a rant or a moan, but there is a certain reluctance to deal with it. We do not talk enough about these situations with colleagues. I think it is something we should take up at the seniorVIP meetings. It would be nice to discuss among us how best to handle the press, says Jørgen and continues:

- It’s like when a colleague is seriously ill or has just lost a spouse – you need to talk to the person rather than give them a wide berth.

Talk to your colleague

Whether it is the ’media star’ or the colleagues who should take the initiative to talk, Jørgen is unsure of, but he does think that not being good at talking to each other is a Danish characteristic. He also welcomes criticism.

- If anybody has any criticism I would like to know – for example, if I am too forthcoming or if some of the things I say are inappropriate or wrong.

In the article in Politiken Jørgen also mentions that such a violent media storm that runs completely out of hand feels highly uncomfortable and can lead to people going down with stress. Jørgen has not himself felt that he was going down with stress, but there were days during the period where he felt under strong pressure. This was when University of Copenhagen sent out the wrong figures. Jørgen was one of the contributors of these figures but had not had the time to check them all before it was too late.

- In such a situation there is only one thing to do: admit your error straightaway. You have to be completely honest – also when you make mistakes.

Has all this turmoil given Jørgen cold feet? Does he wish that others would take their turn as spokesperson for a while?

- It would be nice if more scientists went to the media, but I do not mind being the mouthpiece, says the high-profile professor.