The environmental and socially engaged palaeontologist – suggestions for action at conferences and beyond

Abstract

The several refugee crises, the continuous degradation of the environment, and the nativism of some influential religious and political sectors are bringing about a new era of activism in some sectors of society. Given the deep-time perspective, the international nature of palaeontology, the exposure through field work and museum visits to intercultural exchanges in different geographic settings, and the importance of the preservation and care of collections, the ‘social fabric’ that surrounds palaeontologists is appropriate for engaging the sensibility and awareness that current times demand. In fact, many colleagues often refer to these major issues and express informed opinions through social media. Concrete and immediate actions are urgently needed. But in an age of information over-load, sorting through ways in which to act that are environmentally and socially responsible can be a challenge. Our aim here is to provide a set of suggestions that concern the organization of scientific meetings; in many cases, these actions also apply to other concrete activities in the professional life of the palaeontologist and to practitioners of other disciplines as well. We are aware that there is no final word on how to reduce the environmental impact of our work-related routines and it is hard to generalize suggestions for all stages of academic life and countries of the world. We offer suggestions not as experts but as concerned scientists and global citizens.