[Coral-List] A lesson for the coral sciences

[Alina Szmant]

Hello Andy:

I urge you to recognize the difference between a hypothesis and a theory. Too many people including many scientists conflate the two terms.  A hypothesis is a proposed idea of what is the cause for any observation that can be tested and either supported or refuted. A theory on the other hand is a mechanistic explanation for a natural phenomenon that has already been tested and data obtained to support it.  Of course,  new data can refute the findings of older data and a theory can be refuted and revised. Commonly people use the term theory (as in " I have a theory that the  xxx is better than the yyy" or "I have a theory that this is going to cause that") based on a hunch or preference but that does not raise whatever that person utters to be a real theory.  In science it is critical to be precise with our use of terminology so as to not muddy the waters with half baked ideas.




Dr. Alina M. Szmant,  CEO
CISME Instruments LLC



-------- Original message --------
From: Andy Collins via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Date: 9/5/22 12:59 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Eugene Shinn <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] A lesson for the coral sciences

I’m fine with this dialog but be cautious. The general public thinks science works the same way politics does. I would urge anyone to include some kind of disclaimer or other info about the scientific process. Proving theories wrong is part of science. It’s why they are called theories. The general public has little understanding of this, and denies all of climate science over a few emails. Let’s educate as we deliberate. Please.

Andy Collins

> On Sep 4, 2022, at 5:03 AM, Eugene Shinn via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>
> Thank You Steve Mussman, I certainly agree. I have seen many accepted scientific theories be proven wrong in my lifetime and not just in Coral Reef science. I am often reminded of Mark Twain who once said,  "Tis easier to fool people than to convince them they were fooled"  Gene
>
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