Much of what we enjoy about the modern world was born thanks to science. However, even though science is so relevant to our society, it can sometimes be affected by external factors.
Political concerns can affect science by making a particular type of discourse unacceptable or unpopular. For example, when Galileo defended heliocentrism, the Roman Inquisition, which had a lot of political power in Italy at that time, persecuted him and placed him on house arrest for life. Another example is climate change, which although completely accepted by science nowadays, can sometimes clash with government policies that do not subscribe to it. However, in those countries that do, science can influence environmental policies.
Social concerns that affect science can be seen in the study of gender differences. Whether it is socially acceptable to treat both genders equally, or not, science has tended to reflect those attitudes. Because science cannot exist in a bubble, it is always affected by social pressures. It can also be affected by it in terms of exposure, as science that challenges social expectations tends to be ignored by the general population.
Lastly, science can be affected by economic concerns. This is more clearly reflected in funding. Countries that struggle economically, particularly those that adopt austerity measures, tend to cut funding for scientific research as well. On the other hand, science can affect economy by developing technologies that make production faster or that can be sold to other countries. It also raises standards of living, which results in a healthier, more productive workforce for a nation.
