I have to say that this friend, David Lawrence, speaks my mind (to use a Quaker saying). I remember a very influential person in So Cal habitat conservation reminding me years ago that science has a slim chance of preserving nature unless we win people's hearts and not just their minds. I think he is still right. Cheryl Swift Professor of Biology Whittier College ________________________________
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of David M. Lawrence Sent: Tue 1/6/2009 11:12 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] New Book for Nature Enthusiasts I had to splash Silvert's rationality with a jigger of cold, hard reality, but the scientific community needs to realize at some point that if those worms in the bottom of the North Sea are going to survive, the community needs to build public support for policies that promote conservation. To get that public support, the scientific community needs to use its skills to create a "rapturous love affair" between the public and the natural environment. Otherwise, the public spends more time caring about middle-aged D-list celebrities dancing on some television set in fantasyland. Dave
