Who Writes the Narrative?

How do scientists weigh the importance of speaking publicly versus the real-world consequences of such statements? While scientists have a long history of challenging official narratives, the flip side of being a contrarian is creating background noise and delivering noninformation. During Deepwater Horizon, scientists who publicly challenged the government response thought they were doing the right thing. However, the end result was a net negative for everyone—most crucially the residents of the coastal communities who, more than anything, needed real information presented in a clear, sober manner.