BLAME: From Scientists to Scapegoats

On February 3 the ODEON cinema in Cologne hosted a screening of the documentary BLAME and a talk between its director, Christian Frei, and the MPIfG’s Leon Wansleben on the role of science in times of crisis. Frei’s film follows the scapegoating of three scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic: Having warned years earlier of a pandemic, they found themselves at the center of disinformation and political finger-pointing after its outbreak. In the post-screening discussion, moderated by science journalist Carolin Riethmüller, Frei and Wansleben drew parallels between the pandemic experience and the climate crisis. Wansleben, leader of the Contested Ecologies Research Group at the MPIfG, explained why people are so responsive to simplistic narratives and negative stereotypes when they feel threatened. Both speakers stressed the importance of reliable institutions to mediate clearly and calmly between science and the rest of society. In their view, science is responsible for delivering relevant knowledge and context – and political decision-makers for political decisions. The film goes on public release in cinemas on April 16 but is already being shown in select German cinemas, with post-screening discussions including researchers from the Max Planck Society.