Why Australians dislike academics

Since people usually despise and fear that which they do not know or understand, it is hard to avoid inferring that the Australian public’s lack of knowledge of what goes on in universities and science agencies is at the root of its indifference and cynicism towards them.

And that the poor performance of research institutions in communicating their work to a wider public over decades is more than a little to blame for the squeeze they are now experiencing: there is no electoral downside for any government which chokes off or neglects university or research funding: most people simply don’t care because they think it does not affect them.

Indigenous people who want an apology long ago understood that to get one they need the wider electorate onside. Farmers who need help fighting salinity know they need public and environmentalist support. Anyone who has ever done any politics knows that to get governments to move you need substantial community sympathy as well as backing from influentials, like industry, NGOs, churches and prominent individuals.

Science and academia have yet to absorb this basic lesson. They still believe - innocently - in the triumph of virtue or that logic will win the political day.

Getting Australians to back academia does not require whinging, strident demands or militancy.

It requires sharing the wonderful achievements of our researchers, their significance and impact, with Australians at large - a damn sight more effectually than at present.