O Boletim Informativo da International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) de setembro publicou um artigo do secretário-geral da organização, João P.B. Viola (INCA), sobre o avanço de movimentos anticiência e a importância do diálogo, da educação e da disseminação do conhecimento científico.

Membro da Sociedade Brasileira de Imunologia (SBI) e presidente da entidade na gestão 2014-2015, Viola também destaca o papel de avanços científicos, como vacinas e antibióticos, no aumento da expectativa e da qualidade de vida.

Leia o texto abaixo:

Dear colleagues and friends,

In times of global political and ideological polarization, dialogue remains the primary means of raising awareness to bridge divides, offering a civilizing and humanistic approach to reaching a population in need of being embraced and heard. Global transformations are occurring at a speed unprecedented in human history, with an impressive capacity for dissemination, yet scientifically accurate information does not always reach everyone with clarity and transparency.

Scientific advances in recent years have transformed our civilization, as evidenced by data from various global agencies. Historical data regarding the human species, including earlier hominids, show that average life expectancy remained stable at between 20 and 50 years for millennia^1,2. However, according to The Global Heath Observatory of World Health Organization (WHO), throughout the 20^th century, we rapidly reached an average life expectancy of 70 years; today, some countries have even reached an average of 86 years². An analysis of this data clearly demonstrates that a single factor was pivotal in this gain, not only in terms of longevity but also quality of life: the scientific advances achieved by humanity, including the development of vaccines and the discovery of antibiotics.

Global anti-science movements are becoming increasingly widespread and, alarmingly, are reaching a significant portion of the world's population, including government officials who ought to base their actions on scientific evidence in areas such as education, health, and technological development. Despite the science-denying rhetoric of certain groups, reality demonstrates that science prevails over arguments lacking a solid scientific foundation, regardless of any belief or ideology. Due to antivax beliefs, we are seen an unprecedented rise in preventable infectious diseases among unvaccinated populations. Similarly, climate change is affecting millions of people, even though global warming skeptics deny it. In fact, this creates a profound impact on the lives of thousands of individuals, most of whom remain unaware of this debate.

In this regard, the IUIS plays a vital role in disseminating knowledge of immunology across the globe, engaging in education and championing science grounded in a solid foundation. We must work to spread the key evidence that underpins decision-making based on scientific facts. There is no other path forward but dialogue and the presentation of data that foster a more sustainable world. Ultimately, there are no shortcuts: Education transforms people, and science changes lives.

1 Riley, J.C. Rising Life Expectancy: A Global History (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2001).

2 Olshansky, S.J. et al. Implausibility of radical life extension in humans in the twenty-first century. Nature Aging 4:1335-1342, 2024.