Scientists, Donors, and the Politics of Anticipating the Future

Abstract

Chapter 3 explores the close relationships between scientists and their funders as they work together to produce new knowledge as a base from which to advocate for policy. Climate scientists both describe and produce multiple possible futures via climate projection models, thus opening various possibilities for acting on those futures. At the same time, these possible futures are heavily shaped by donors acting as advocates behind the scenes, particularly through the selective funding of scientific studies. In this context, private foundations have played a significant role in the production of policy-driven science that simultaneously models, and produces, particular population and climate futures.