Promoting science activism for the twenty-first century and beyond: Positioning science activism to promote course corrections in science and to lead to higher scientific output across societ

We begin this paper by providing a brief definition of activism, carrying out a brief overview of activism through the ages, and also present a review of the different types of activism as carried out in different geographies and segments of society. We also state why activism is still sorely lacking in various fields in the sciences to promote the cause of the sciences, and explain why we need to step up the ante, and promote science activism which can also be known as scientific activism, in various subfields of science, and in science in general. Even though some forms of activism manifested themselves in various fields of the sciences, the idea is still nascent, and in some circles, still a taboo. We also explain and debate the various areas of scientific and scholarly activity where this technique can be put to productive and fruitful use, in the interests of rapid scientific progress. We also discuss the various mechanisms through which this can be made to happen and brought to fruition and its logical conclusion, and discuss the different types of possible change agents as well. We also explain how and why this can lead to a much faster and a higher rate of scientific progress, and lead to what we have all along called “scientific progress at the speed of light”, and reduce the gaps in a “multi-speed civilization". Needless to say, this could in turn induce a ripple effect, and promote faster societal and cultural change as well in all walks of life.