| Computer hackers revealed electronic | | | | natural internal variability of the climate system... |
| communications involving Pennsylvania State | | | | Volcanic influences... Solar influences..." Because of |
| University's Professor Michael Mann and England's | | | | all the variables, it becomes necessary to take a |
| University of East Anglia Professor Phil Jones, the | | | | solid look at the collected facts from various |
| head of the Climate Research Unit, in November | | | | viewpoints. |
| of 2009. The media scrutinized these e-mails | | | | |
| because they implied that there was some | | | | Second, one must not be affected by political |
| misbehavior involving the two men. It seemed | | | | opinion when researching such a decidedly |
| that statistics were kept from becoming public in | | | | politicized issue as climate change. Although Jones' |
| order to persuade the peer review process for | | | | records showed otherwise, it seems as though he |
| some scientific papers which had points of view | | | | might have felt pressured to present the "right" |
| dissenting from those of the Climate Research | | | | information. He may have felt pressure to do so |
| Unit. For example, "I've just completed Mike's | | | | because of the combination of science with |
| Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each | | | | politics. When questioned by the BBC, Jones |
| series for the last 20 years ie, from 1981 | | | | admitted that, although there has been certain |
| onwards and from 1961 for Keith's to hide the | | | | warming, there has not been significant global |
| decline," wrote Professor Jones, in one such | | | | warming from 1995 to the present, and that |
| e-mail. Jones has since stepped down as head of | | | | "Achieving statistical significance in scientific terms |
| the Climate Research Unit. | | | | is much more likely for longer periods, and much |
| | | | | less likely for shorter periods." What this means is |
| Although Professor Jones has defended the | | | | that Dr. Jones may have felt the need to stretch |
| matter within his e-mails, most recently to BBC | | | | his information to look sympathetic to the topic |
| News in a question-and-answer format (see what | | | | of climate change. Now there are doubts cast on |
| he wrote has sparked a public outcry in relation to | | | | all of his findings, not only those referred to in his |
| how scientists handle statistics, especially in | | | | e-mails to Mann. |
| relation to climatology. Responding to his critics in | | | | |
| the interview with BBC, he says that the "...'trick' | | | | Last, the general public is not well-versed in |
| did not refer to any intention to deceive -- but | | | | thinking critically when it comes to scientific |
| rather 'a convenient way of achieving something'." | | | | matters. Science is not black and white and most |
| | | | | scientific conclusions are intricate and layered. |
| We have got to ask why and how something like | | | | Rather than looking at records neutrally with a |
| "Climategate" could take place. What do the | | | | healthy dose of uncertainty, every so often the |
| records truly reflect? This leads us to ask if there | | | | media and politicians will take their own point of |
| is there a "correct" tactic to interpreting scientific | | | | view and then seek scientific records to back up |
| facts, and if not, how does one educate a young | | | | their already-formed opinions. This leads to an |
| scientist to clarify statistics to reflect the best | | | | imbalance in the way scientific data are presented |
| possible representation of reality? If the periods | | | | to society. |
| studied do not show a warming trend of statistical | | | | |
| consequence, what does this mean? How well do | | | | These are significant concerns when it comes to |
| the interpretations of the facts point toward what | | | | science and how scientists portray scientific data |
| is truly occurring with the climate? Was the need | | | | to the public, and these problems point to a dire |
| to "hide the decline" a scientific obligation or was it | | | | need to revamp science education. There will |
| political? Furthermore, if it was political how much | | | | always be a need for professional thoughts, but it |
| should politics persuade the interpretation of | | | | is not good to only rely on the "experts," and this |
| scientific statistics? | | | | state of affairs proves that every person needs |
| | | | | to better comprehend the scientific process. |
| First, interpreting scientific information and | | | | There is a significant need for journalists, politicians |
| predicting climate change are not precise | | | | and everyday readers who follow the news to be |
| science--there isn’t a single accurate approach | | | | better educated to think critically and grasp the |
| to either one. Because there are numerous | | | | limitations of scientific research. Better science |
| variables, climatology is extremely complex. Jones | | | | education is not merely a necessity for young |
| notes just a few of the numerous information | | | | people who want to be scientists when they |
| points a climate scientist must take into | | | | grow up. |
| consideration: "human and natural influences... | | | | |