Comments on: Obama asks a scientist to run Energy Department?

By: Scott Funkhouser

Scott Funkhouser — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:06:53 +0000

I am anxious to know Phil Plait’s reaction to Chu’s
unscientific fear-mongering:
http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/can-someone-point-to-the-science-4930
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_02_01-2009_02_07.shtml#1233804643

By: T.E.L.

T.E.L. — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:47:13 +0000

How about just drinking a bottle of hard science? Mike’s-Brand Hard Science: delicious!

By: stopgap

stopgap — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:58:03 +0000

When it comes to energy policy a background in economics is a must. Any wrong changes to the policy without proper consideration to the current economic situation would be damaging. After that a background in hard science would be a plus.

By: Levi

Levi — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:24:26 +0000

According to the Wikipedia article: “Chu is an early signatory to Project Steve, an educational campaign supporting the conventional scientific understanding of evolution.”

Awesome.

By: David D

David D — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:36:38 +0000

@Gary–
“The point is, if we CAN influence GW by reducing our contribution to it, we should,,,”

I heartily agree. I don’t think the question anymore is whether or not GW is occurring–it is.
The question now is how to go about addressing the issue, without destroying our economy (which is in perilous straits as it is). Climate science is far too inexact at this time to make policies that would bottle up Western economic growth while allowing other nations to continue to churn out greenhouse gases at unprecedented rates. If the crisis is real, then we ALL need to pull together as a planet, don’t you think?

I’m not sure why your “threat” scenario doesn’t qualify as a catastrophe.

By: Gary Ansorge

Gary Ansorge — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:49:24 +0000

GW catastrophe? HArdly! A serious threat to millions of humans? Definitely!

A three meter rise in sea level will imperil at least 100 million people who live on or very near the sea, which includes Hawaii,Indonesia, the Philippines and even Los Angeles(average height above sea level: 16 feet). Changes in rainfall patterns already imperil people who have limited access to fresh water. Since we cannot know, a priori, how climate will reorganize rainfall patterns around the globe or what tipping points may be crossed that could induce run away GW, we need to err on the side of caution. The point is, if we CAN influence GW by reducing our contribution to it, we should,,,

Gary 7

By: David D

David D — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:26:00 +0000

It’s interesting that when the temps are high in the summer, everyone screams about the GW catastrophe, but record setting cold, early snowfalls, etc.–well, that’s just weather.