Writing in the latest issue of GeoJournal, a number of climate change experts have expressed their opinions on former next president of the United States Al Gore‘s controversial documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth. All are said to agree that the film does a good job in raising public awareness of global warming. They also agree […]
Read MoreRegular readers will be aware that, while I follow the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change, I have a dim view of sensationalist attempts at conveying the message. Al Gore’s Oscar-winning film An inconvenient truth had me grinding my teeth, even though I acknowledge the skill that went into the making of this work of […]
Read MoreYou’ve no doubt heard that the former next president of the United States has been awarded a half share in this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The other recipient is the entire UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). I congratulate Rajendra Pachauri and his IPCC colleagues on this well-deserved recognition of their invaluable work. I […]
Read MoreThe following article was commissioned by the Guardian for Comment is Free, and published on 3 May 2007. A recent reaction to a climate change denial documentary broadcast on primetime TV displays contempt for free speech, and political ineptitude. Bob Ward, a former press officer at the Royal Society, has published an open letter to […]
Read MoreMy reaction this morning to a contribution made to the Psi-com email discussion list for science communicators has stirred up a right hornets’ nest. Given that the list is closed, I cannot quote directly from other members’ contributions, but I will refer here to the discussion and, in the following words, draw heavily from my […]
Read MoreThese days I ration myself to a quick daily glance at the Guardian’s Comment is Free bl*g. Anything more than 90 seconds or so gives me a headache, and is in any case a completely unproductive use of my time. So, when I scan through the front page and see articles on global warming, I […]
Read MoreIn the November edition of Scientific American, Michael Lemonick discusses the subject of climatologist Judith Curry, who has made herself unpopular among colleagues for engaging with sceptics in online debates hosted on blogs such as Climate Audit. Engaging with the enemy is, say Curry’s detractors, a waste of time and effort. Needless to say, she […]
Read MoreAfter years out in the cold, cast out by an administration seemingly hostile to reason and in thrall to the religious right, science is to reclaim its place at the forefront of US public policy. Barack Obama has confirmed that Harvard physicist John Holdren will be his chief science advisor. The position of Assistant to […]
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