[Coral-List] A lesson for the coral sciences

[Bill Allison]

Backtracking half a century
Johannes, R. E. (1975). Pollution and degradation of coral reef
communities. Tropical Marine Pollution. E. J. Ferguson Wood and R. E.
Johannes. Amsterdam, Elsevier. 12: 13-51.
"... environmental crises develop faster than they can be completely
assessed. In this context it is more important to make interim decisions in
time than to make more scientifically satisfying decisions later. Pollution
biologists sometimes inject too much traditional laboratory caution into
matters of immediate practical concern. They hesitate because their
information is not final. But information is never final in science, which
proceeds by disproof rather than by proof.
The fact that biologists have sometimes erred in their warnings about
environmental degradation is no justification for abdicating the
responsibility to speak up - any more than the fact that scientists
sometimes publish mistakes means we should all abandon publishing, Those
who remain silent when their observations point to environmental decay are
the undertakers of the environment; environmental post mortems become their
stock and trade. “They measure and we weep.”"
Thoughts and prayers, eh hoser.

On Mon, Sep 5, 2022 at 1:19 PM Steve Mussman via Coral-List <
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

>
> It is interesting that you took it that way Gene, but I interpreted it
> differently.
>
> I was thinking more of the idea that science “should be seen as a project
> that does not just describe the world, but brashly wants to change it”. In
> this way I was actually envisioning coral scientists as advocates for
> change as in consistently displaying a greater willingness to emphasize the
> need to clean up our oceans, address climate change and alter the way we
> interact with the natural world as the primary prerequisites for “saving”
> coral reefs.
>
> “We must learn to see science as a vehicle, not a dodge for human agency:
> something we are right to make demands of, right at times to get angry at,
> whose terrible failures it must own along with its triumphs”. To me this
> brought to mind the idea that if coral reefs continue to decline and if
> societies continue to choose not to aggressively address major stressors
> such as water quality and climate change, then the coral science community
> may need to prepare to accept increasing levels of criticism for their
> collective failure to sound the alarm with adequate forcefulness.
>
> And again finally . . .
>
> “A science that people will follow must lead”.
>
> I thought Dr Fauci did lead and led effectively at least for those who
> value science. He wasn’t perfect, but he followed the science and pointed
> the way out all while being undermined, usurped and even threatened by his
> detractors. I wish we had more like him in the coral science community who
> would be willing to speak truth to power.
>
> Regards,
>
> Steve
>
> On 9/1/22, 1:53 PM, 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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