[Coral-List] Coral Reef Curmudgeons

[Tom Williams]

I have read several of the Curmudgeons messages...the only time "coral" is mentioned is in the Subject Line????

As this is "CORAL List" lets focus on corals...they need the help.

BTW - my dissertation dealt with the climate change generated by the rising himalayas and rockies and their effects on the JetStream and the Monsoon/Meditterean Weather systems....yeah - I BELIEVE the available info is sufficient to warrant most and probably a lot more concerns for the Climate Changes and ocean circulation and what both/all will do to the already dessimated coral reef communities throughout the world ....

LETS focus at least one word, one sentence, or one paragraph on corals or reefs..

Thanks Jim

Tom

--- On Thu, 9/23/10, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net>
> Subject: [Coral-List] Coral Reef Curmudgeons
> To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 5:03 AM
> Ulf, 
>   In a more perfect world of pure and independent
> scientific research
> your premise that “where the message comes from is and
> remains irrelevant”
> would hold true, but it is apparent that our contemporary
> societies
> do not to occupy that realm.
> 
> Contrary to your perspective, the central problem may not
> be found in what
> scientific inquiry is carried out (although that can
> sometimes be the case),
> but in the ability of proprietary interests to influence
> and selectively use
> the results produced for material or ideological ends.
> 
> Modern day scientists are not void of social
> responsibility, but rather appear to be
> entrapped by the system in which they operate. It is true
> that we shouldn’t
> disregard the “science” produced from certain sectors a
> priori, but at the same time
> we must insist on a level of transparency that allows for
> the detection of
> potential conflicts of interest. This has to be considered
> because in our less than
> perfect world, there is ample evidence that peripheral
> factors often influence results.
>  
> In a sense, if we ignore this reality, we are choosing to
> live in a Dark Ages
> all our own.
> 
> Attacking the blameless messenger may be poor form, but
> when the Persian emissaries
> arrived at the gates of Sparta demanding that it submit to
> King Xerxes,
> can you really fault Leonidas and his soldiers for forcing
> them into the pit?
> 
>     
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Ulf Erlingsson <ceo at lindorm.com>
> >Sent: Sep 22, 2010 10:15 AM
> >To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Coral Reef Curmudgeons
> >
> >This is not about coral, but it is crucial for the
> future of science.
> >
> >How shall we evaluate research?
> >
> >Already the old Greeks knew that it was the message,
> not the  
> >messenger, that we shall pay attention to. So how comes
> that so many  
> >today focus on where the message comes from? It is and
> remains  
> >irrelevant.
> >
> >The fact is that scientists depend on funding, and
> funding is not  
> >results-neutral in many cases. Thus, the bias is more
> likely to be in  
> >what scientific inquiry is carried out (or not carried
> out), than in  
> >the results that are published. If we disregard results
> from a  
> >certain sector a priori, we are back to the Dark
> Ages...
> >
> >All results have to be critically evaluated based on
> merits, without  
> >regard for who wrote it.
> >
> >
> >On 2010-09-21, at 13:14, Dr. Elaine M. Abusharbain
> wrote:
> >
> >>   Dear Coral Listers,
> >> I am not a biological or coral reef scientist, but
> as I science  
> >> educator
> >> I see these problems as important in science ed.
> Are American  
> >> Enterprise
> >> Institute scientists really scientists? They were
> funded $ 23  
> >> million by
> >> Exxon to produce climate change science. Is this
> stuff peer reviewed
> >> when it comes from a think tank? I don't think so.
> The public sees
> >> scientists with PhD's doing research and considers
> it valid science.
> >> How can you blame the public for not understanding
> this subtle but  
> >> huge
> >> difference? Yet who is on NPR just about every day
> posing as a  
> >> reputable
> >> view on all kinds of matters including climate
> change.
> >> Scientists have produced NAS, IPPC etc reports,
> years ago.  In my
> >> dealings with nonbiology majors in college and
> most biology majors,  
> >> they
> >> are unaware of these kinds of influences nor the
> scientific reports  
> >> even
> >> though they understand the importance of peer
> review.
> >> There is much to educate about and not enough
> science educators out
> >> there who take on the charge.  Our media is
> very controlled if even
> >> biology students are unaware of these kinds of
> reports (until they  
> >> take
> >> ecology of course and many won't)
> >> Thanks, I am on the list to become educated in
> coral science.... so I
> >> usually keep to myself.
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
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> 
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