Original article: Científicos chilenos alertan sobre retrocesos en ciencia y medio ambiente bajo el gobierno de Kast Below is the full statement signed by various scientific societies in Chile expressing their concern that «public policy decisions in Chile reveal a partial and alarmingly reductive understanding of knowledge, ecosystems, and the role of the state in societal development. » Science, Knowledge, and Environment: Essential Assets Chile Cannot Afford to Sacrifice Santiago, May 2026 The scientific and academic communities that endorse this letter share a concern that cannot be expressed merely in seminars or technical publications: the recent signals and public policy decisions in Chile demonstrate a troublingly narrow perspective on knowledge, ecosystems, and the state’s role in societal development. Scientific knowledge does not arise spontaneously nor does it persist without support.
It requires stable funding, robust institutions, and individuals trained over many years in disciplines that seldom yield immediate results. Behind every advancement we take for granted today—whether it be a medical treatment, a drought-resistant crop variety, or a water management protocol—lies decades of accumulated research and human capital built with patience. When moves are made to discontinue the instruments that uphold this chain, it is not merely an accounting adjustment: it is akin to severing the river’s source and then questioning why there is no water.
Misunderstanding the value of academic research as solely the jobs it generates in the short term reflects a temporal scale confusion with real consequences. Books, articles, and scientific publications are not mere adornments of the academic system: they serve as mechanisms for validation, memory, and knowledge transfer. While a specialized publication may seem abstract from an urgent economic standpoint, it is part of the journey that enables young researchers to advise territories, develop biotechnological solutions, or diagnose emerging diseases.
Economies that have embraced this principle now export technology and talent; meanwhile, Chile remains heavily dependent on its natural resources. The only structural outlet requires ongoing investment in science, education, and innovation. The same science deemed unproductive is what has allowed us to understand that not all territories are equivalent.
Wetlands are a paradigm example: for decades, they were treated as valueless spaces. Research has demonstrated otherwise. Today, we know they regulate hydrological cycles, store carbon, sustain endemic biodiversity, and serve as natural buffers against the floods that affect thousands of Chilean families each winter.
Ignoring this evidence is not common sense: it amounts to assuming social and environmental costs that someone inevitably pays. What connects these dimensions is not a corporate defense or a partisan position, but a fundamental issue of public responsibility: to recognize that certain goods do not have immediate market prices but possess immense social and strategic value. Countries that have confused value with price have paid steep costs in competitiveness, environmental vulnerability, and social exclusion.
Chile has the chance to avoid repeating that mistake. We request that any budgetary or regulatory review be conducted through transparent processes, engaging academic communities, research centers, and competent technical agencies, safeguarding strategic instruments for advanced training, collaborative research, environmental protection, and the circulation of knowledge. We call upon citizens to value and defend these common goods as concrete conditions for a more just, prosperous, and resilient future.
A society that does not invest in understanding the world it inhabits is not saving; it is mortgaging its future.