Posted by
Always To The Right on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 1:40:46 AM
Skeptical scientist has university certification revoked! - For ten years or more, professor David Deming
has taught a course in environmental geology at the University of Oklahoma. In October 2008, he was informed that
the "general education" certification for his course was being revoked. Under the University of Oklahoma
system, this means that student enrollment in the course is likely to drop by two-thirds.
This is a course which receives outstanding student evaluations.
Professor Deming is well-known to be a global-warming
skeptic. In 2006, he testified before the US Senate that media coverage of global warming had descended into
"irrational hysteria."
Professor Deming is unaware of any other case in the history of the University of Oklahoma where the "gen ed"
certification for a course has been revoked.
It would appear possible that professor Deming's position on global warming was a motivating factor. But in this
case, the tragedy is that the people being punished are the students, not the professor.
Those who wish to express their concern can do so by writing or calling University of Oklahoma President David
Boren.
David Boren, President
University of Oklahoma
110 Evans Hall
Norman, OK 73019
telephone: 405-325-3916
Note changed email address: email: dboren@ou.edu
What the Public Doesn't Understand About
Climate Change - As I report on climate change, I come across a lot of scary facts, like the possibility that
thawing permafrost in Siberia could release gigatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, or the risk that
Greenland could pass a tipping point and begin to melt rapidly. But one of the most frightening studies I've read
recently had nothing to do with icebergs or megadroughts. In a paper that came out Oct. 23 in Science, John Sterman
— a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Sloan School of Management — wrote about asking
212 MIT grad students to give a rough idea how much governments need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to
eventually stop the increase in the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. These students had training in
science, technology, mathematics and economics at one of the best schools in the world — they are probably a lot
smarter than you or me. Yet 84% of Sterman's subjects got his problem wrong, greatly underestimating the degree to
which greenhouse gas emissions need to fall. When the MIT kids can't figure out climate change, what are the odds
that the broader public will? (Bryan Walsh, Time)
Wrong according to whom? As yet people have no idea how much the apparent increase in atmospheric carbon
dioxide is actually a result of temperature change and without knowing that or what future temperature trends
might be all answers are dubious. These guys assume an awful lot of facts not in evidence.
So, 82% get it: 18% - Climate Change - Climate
Change survey in America: Only 18% believe it's real, caused by humans, and harmful (Tom Nelson)
Global warming caused by
solar panels - This finding is kind of cute. (The Reference Frame)