According to Forsyth, environmental science is not neutral but is shaped by political interests, institutional power, and dominant narratives. Which statement best reflects this claim?

• A. It is entirely objective and neutral.
• B. It is shaped by political interests, institutional power, and dominant narratives.
• C. It depends solely on economic outcomes.
• D. It reflects only natural science data, independent of society.

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is that environmental science is not detached from politics and power; it is shaped by political interests, institutional power, and dominant narratives. This means that the questions scientists pursue, the way data are collected and interpreted, and the problems that get attention are all influenced by broader social and political forces.

That is why the best reflection is the statement that environmental science is shaped by political interests, institutional power, and dominant narratives. Forsyth argues that science in this field does not float free from society; funding sources, regulatory goals, institutional agendas, and widely shared stories about nature all steer what is studied and how findings are framed. In other words, science operates within a social landscape where power and narratives guide choices as much as data.

Other options miss this point. Saying it is entirely objective and neutral ignores how research agendas and interpretations are influenced by outside forces. Claiming it depends solely on economic outcomes narrows the influence to one factor and overlooks politics, institutions, and culture. Saying it reflects only natural science data independent of society denies the very ways in which social context shapes what counts as evidence and what questions are considered important.