Maiken and others, don't get me wrong. I am a strong proponent for using good science to inform our decision makers. I have presented or helped present statements along this line for many agency and legislative hearings and deliberations. Usually I find it most effective to present the science without advocating a particular action or decision. However, in many or most cases the best available science so obviously indicates what must be done that I don't have to advocate -- the science does it for me -- and the climate change/energy use issue is a prime example of this.
Warren W. Aney Tigard, Oregon -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ecolo...@listserv.umd.edu]on Behalf Of Maiken Winter Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 23:43 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Thank you for responding to the survey! I owe you all a short explanation - I developed the survey I posted yesterday (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=S2Q7Cyxa8xmJSiRNn_2b8Opw_3d_3d) not for a scientific study but to get a quick overview over the thoughts of scientists about their role in climate action. I plan to use the results to write a commentary ona blog, the Clean Energy Project (www.cleanenergy-project.de). Obviously, the survey is not perfect at all; but it does give interesting results so far. As it turns out, the responses are so many, the debate so intense, the answers so contradictory, that I do want to improve this survey and repeat it professionally to be able to have a more scientific debate on an issue that is - in my opinion - of major importance. Basically, I believe it is high time what we seriously rethink and debate our role as scientists in society, and about the prioritization of our work. Is it true that scientists have no more responsibility to act than any other citizen - as some people commented? But isn't it also true that we are privileged to be educated and wealthy enough to have the means and freedom to think through the scientific evidence, and to understand what that evidence truly means? If we, as scientists, feel that we understand science better than other people, isn't it our uttermost responsibility to pass on this knowledge and understanding on to others? Not only to other scientists, but also to the public and politicians as well. "Science is not politics, and scientists should stay away from politics", one scientist commented. But relying on politicians and media to interpret our data got us in the trouble we are in today. I hope this survey stimulates further discussion (but please more friendly; I love debate, but only when it is based on mutual respect) and helps us to step a bit further out of our science glasshouse to take responsibility for what we all work for - a deeper understanding of nature so that future generations can admire and witness what we discover. Many of those discoveries will be useless if we do not act quickly on climate change together. Please do know that I am well aware of the danger to lose credibility when getting active in public affairs, and that I absolutely do not pretend to know the solution of how to best balance both sides. But I do believe that at the moment we are not courageous enough to try out how to best stand on that rope, and that our priorities at the moment are often too selfish and short-sighted, myself included. Thank you to all those who have participated in the survey so far! And thanks for those who will. Maiken Winter
