[Coral-List] Media hyperbole in Coral Science

[sealab at earthlink.net]

Hi Colin,

I think we can all agree that much of the information disseminated by various media outlets today has some sort of slant to it. We have come to expect that and therefore should all be forewarned to consume information warily. There should be no need for that same instinctive distrust of information to be applied to science, especially the coral sciences in this time of crisis. Just this morning I read an editorial in which the columnist opined “I don’t feel I can believe anything that comes out of the mainstream media . . . Sadly, it is the same with the so-called medical experts and scientists”. Of course he was referring to the science related to COVID-19, but the point was driven home and it made me think about our discussions here.

From my perspective (with no claims of moral authority or enhanced expertise), both the media and some within the coral science community share culpability in that they have repeatedly overstated the efficacy of restoration. Framing it as a “solution”, a way to “save coral reefs” from impending disaster. All without clear and direct references to the obvious and imperative need to address causation. What I am suggesting is that perhaps the coral science community needs to be more mindful of the ramifications related to their messaging. Details matter, even omissions.

Everyone agrees that there is still much to learn about coral reefs and while restoration projects hold great promise, their advocacy has its limits. Outplanting is not a panacea.

A recent paper cited here on survivorship of an outplanting project in the Florida Keys (Ware M, Garfield EN, Nedimyer K, Levy J, Kaufman L, et al. 2020) exemplifies a more data-driven, fact-based approach to messaging. I hope that they choose to follow up and amplify their directive which emphasizes that while restoration projects can help protect against local extinction and aid in maintaining genetic diversity in the wild, “reducing stressors will be required before significant population growth and recovery will occur”.

Let’s not conflate the roles of science and the media. I’m all for optimism and hopefulness, but let’s keep coral science and its messaging unclouded, principled and trustworthy.

Regards,

Steve Mussman

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On 5/14/20, 12:48 PM, Coral Morphologic via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

Steve, I think we are in agreement. You are preaching to the choir here.

Coral List is the definition of a platform for science communication, by

scientists for scientists; which by its nature is a bubble. What I would

like to see more than empty shade-casting and grumblings about the media

and the scientists whose work they may or may not accurately cover, are

real proposals for solutions to breaking through this bubble. I think it is

unrealistic to expect the responsibility to reform truth in all media to

fall entirely on the coral scientists. Coral Morphologic, as an independent

platform for coral science communication to the general public is one such

attempt. If you follow us on Twitter you're aware that we share the good

news and bad news coming out of coral science. But if you have your own

ideas to shift the current science/media paradigm, we should all be

supportive. We need as many facets as possible shining light at different

angles through the darkness.

Cheers,

Colin

Coral Morphologic

Coral City Camera

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