On Tue, Apr 08, 2014 at 11:06:09PM +0000, chris peck wrote: > >> To see if various denier criticisms were valid. > > So you accept the claims of climate change advocates as true by default and > only read those papers which have criticisms leveled at them by deniers? That > isn't very even handed. > > >> I argued that most congressmen wouldn't be able to read them (since very > >> few are scientists of any kind, much less climate scientists). > > If it is important to be a climate scientist to read a climate science paper > then, again, why do you bother reading them? You are not a climate scientist. > You do not, on your own account, possess the skills to understand them. >
I have known Brent for a long time, and think this rather unlikely. He has a string grasp of Physics and other general scientific topics, as well as a lifetime of professional research. What he probably doesn't have the skills for is to write a climate science paper and have it accepted in a peer reviewed journal, but understanding what is written has a much lower bar. > In truth though, it doesn't follow from the fact that someone isn't a scientist that they can't read or understand a scientific paper. Thats just tawdry elitism. Since it is possible to teach children physics, biology, chemistry etc. it is also possible to explain the important aspects of climate science to congressmen. And thats what should happen rather than chucking around empty statements about consensuses or the lack of thereof. Absolutely. But people without any form of research training would find it very difficult indeed. Most people with a PhD in physics, or even a lesser degree such as a MSc by research or a BSc (hons) could probably manage, as the science itself is classical. Sadly, there are very few politicians with that sort of training though. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Principal, High Performance Coders Visiting Professor of Mathematics [email protected] University of New South Wales http://www.hpcoders.com.au Latest project: The Amoeba's Secret (http://www.hpcoders.com.au/AmoebasSecret.html) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
