Dr Samuel Finnerty
@samuelfinnerty.bsky.social
Wellcome Trust Funded Senior Research Associate @LancasterUni. Research Culture, Personal & Collective Identity, Moral Values, Prosocial Action, Climate Activism https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/psychology/about-us/people/samuel-finnerty#publications
typo but can't edit now without deleting it. Should read "... tend to take the least climate-related action (civic or lifestyle).
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
typo but can't edit now without deleting it. Should read "... tend to take the least climate-related action (civic or lifestyle).
I’ve written a longer piece exploring these dynamics in more detail (link below), drawing on Dablander and colleagues excellent study and insights from our survey and interview work: lnkd.in/eBJUFWEg
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lnkd.in
November 17, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I’ve written a longer piece exploring these dynamics in more detail (link below), drawing on Dablander and colleagues excellent study and insights from our survey and interview work: lnkd.in/eBJUFWEg
Together, these findings highlight an important point: how scientists frame climate solutions shapes what the public and policymakers see as possible. Technological optimism can narrow debate if it sidelines social and political change bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
<em>British Journal of Social Psychology</em> | Wiley Online Library
The climate and ecological crisis poses an unprecedented challenge, with scientists playing a critical role in how society understands and responds. This study examined how 27 environmentally concern...
bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Together, these findings highlight an important point: how scientists frame climate solutions shapes what the public and policymakers see as possible. Technological optimism can narrow debate if it sidelines social and political change bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Critique also emerged
“I’m playing the technophile argument […] that we’ll develop technologies to save the situation without having to change […] Unless we drastically reduce fossil-fuel consumption, it’s not gonna matter […] The Keeling curve is a perfect straight line.”
Scientist (carbon-capture)
“I’m playing the technophile argument […] that we’ll develop technologies to save the situation without having to change […] Unless we drastically reduce fossil-fuel consumption, it’s not gonna matter […] The Keeling curve is a perfect straight line.”
Scientist (carbon-capture)
November 17, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Critique also emerged
“I’m playing the technophile argument […] that we’ll develop technologies to save the situation without having to change […] Unless we drastically reduce fossil-fuel consumption, it’s not gonna matter […] The Keeling curve is a perfect straight line.”
Scientist (carbon-capture)
“I’m playing the technophile argument […] that we’ll develop technologies to save the situation without having to change […] Unless we drastically reduce fossil-fuel consumption, it’s not gonna matter […] The Keeling curve is a perfect straight line.”
Scientist (carbon-capture)
Here, technological innovation “fits” existing economic structures and preserves a sense of scientific agency.
November 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Here, technological innovation “fits” existing economic structures and preserves a sense of scientific agency.
As one scientist put it:
“Technology […] is more tangible because it’s in the hands of scientists. […] It will raise profits and then that will push companies to invest. […] I have more hope on companies' greed than their altruism.”
“Technology […] is more tangible because it’s in the hands of scientists. […] It will raise profits and then that will push companies to invest. […] I have more hope on companies' greed than their altruism.”
November 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
As one scientist put it:
“Technology […] is more tangible because it’s in the hands of scientists. […] It will raise profits and then that will push companies to invest. […] I have more hope on companies' greed than their altruism.”
“Technology […] is more tangible because it’s in the hands of scientists. […] It will raise profits and then that will push companies to invest. […] I have more hope on companies' greed than their altruism.”
Our interview study on climate futures adds another layer.
🔗https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12840
When scientists expressed techno-optimism, it aligned with a broader business-as-usual framing.
🔗https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12840
When scientists expressed techno-optimism, it aligned with a broader business-as-usual framing.
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lnkd.in
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Our interview study on climate futures adds another layer.
🔗https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12840
When scientists expressed techno-optimism, it aligned with a broader business-as-usual framing.
🔗https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12840
When scientists expressed techno-optimism, it aligned with a broader business-as-usual framing.
This mirrors what we found in our own work
🔗https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01412-9
Scientists who felt activism conflicted with their professional identity were more likely to lean on tech solutions. Those involved in climate action were more sceptical that tech alone would be enough
🔗https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01412-9
Scientists who felt activism conflicted with their professional identity were more likely to lean on tech solutions. Those involved in climate action were more sceptical that tech alone would be enough
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 AM
This mirrors what we found in our own work
🔗https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01412-9
Scientists who felt activism conflicted with their professional identity were more likely to lean on tech solutions. Those involved in climate action were more sceptical that tech alone would be enough
🔗https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01412-9
Scientists who felt activism conflicted with their professional identity were more likely to lean on tech solutions. Those involved in climate action were more sceptical that tech alone would be enough
This varies by discipline. Techno-optimism is strongest in applied sciences and lowest in the humanities.
November 17, 2025 at 11:55 AM
This varies by discipline. Techno-optimism is strongest in applied sciences and lowest in the humanities.
ooh I like this exercise. Teaching a masters course on climate futures next week. Might steal this one, thank you
November 6, 2025 at 9:05 AM
ooh I like this exercise. Teaching a masters course on climate futures next week. Might steal this one, thank you
@thierryaaron.bsky.social @fdabl.bsky.social @maiensachis.bsky.social @annayahprosser.bsky.social If you see any research roles I might be a good fit for, I’d really appreciate a heads-up. Ideally in climate/environment, but open to other socially valuable research.
October 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
@thierryaaron.bsky.social @fdabl.bsky.social @maiensachis.bsky.social @annayahprosser.bsky.social If you see any research roles I might be a good fit for, I’d really appreciate a heads-up. Ideally in climate/environment, but open to other socially valuable research.