Benny Peiser: Climate libel chill

http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2010/03/12/benny-peiser-climate-libel-chill.aspx

by cwan • 16 years ago

7 6 16 years ago

network.nationalpost.com

protomyth• 16 years ago

Regardless of where you come down on this issue, this whole incident should be a lesson for communication. Assume, especially if your work is controversial, that your private e-mails, etc aren't and make sure they are worded so that you don't look like a fraud.

andrewcooke2• 16 years ago

More than that - be prepared to share data with "the opposition" and to question sources that provide "supporting evidence".

I was raised as an academic (have a science PhD) and, without following this issue in detail, have continued to assume that climate change is "real". However, reading that column made me deeply ashamed about the way people - scientists - have behaved.

On the other hand, I can understand how being attacked by financially powerful interests that have a vested interest in discrediting valid, difficult, scientific work, generates that a "siege mentality".

So perhaps one thing that needs to come from this is institutional support (moral guidance and counseling, for example) for people doing research that is going to be opposed by powerful people in the "real world"...

anamax2• 16 years ago

> I can understand how being attacked by financially powerful interests that have a vested interest in discrediting valid, difficult, scientific work, generates that a "siege mentality".

Let's not forget the group-think and career-killing around AGW.

And the money - grant money is going to folks "proving" AGW.

jbscpa• 16 years ago

It has happened before.

"Piltdown man" was considered the greatest scientific hoax of all time

See PBS May 30, 2006 program

Link http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hoax/

"For decades, a fossil skull discovered in Piltdown, England, was hailed as the missing link between apes and humans. Entire careers were built on its authenticity. Then in 1953, the awful truth came out: "Piltdown Man" was a fake! But who done it? In "The Boldest Hoax," NOVA gets to the bottom of the greatest scientific hoodwinking of all time."

Benny Peiser: Climate libel chill

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