From the ‘truth is stranger than fiction department’, reporting from San Francisco at the AGU Fall Meeting
ED11D-02
Professional Ethics for Climate Scientists
Monday, December 15, 201408:15 AM – 08:30 AM Moscone South 102
Several authors have warned that climate scientists sometimes exhibit a tendency to “err on the side of least drama” in reporting the risks associated with fossil fuel emissions. Scientists are often reluctant to comment on the implications of their work for public policy, despite the fact that because of their expertise they may be among those best placed to make recommendations about such matters as mitigation and preparedness. Scientists often have little or no training in ethics or philosophy, and consequently they may feel that they lack clear guidelines for balancing the imperative to avoid error against the need to speak out when it may be ethically required to do so. This dilemma becomes acute in cases such as abrupt ice sheet collapse where it is easier to identify a risk than to assess its probability. We will argue that long-established codes of ethics in the learned professions such as medicine and engineering offer a model that can guide research scientists in cases like this, and we suggest that ethical training could be regularly incorporated into graduate curricula in fields such as climate science and geology. We recognize that there are disanalogies between professional and scientific ethics, the most important of which is that codes of ethics are typically written into the laws that govern licensed professions such as engineering. Presently, no one can legally compel a research scientist to be ethical, although legal precedent may evolve such that scientists are increasingly expected to communicate their knowledge of risks. We will show that the principles of professional ethics can be readily adapted to define an ethical code that could be voluntarily adopted by scientists who seek clearer guidelines in an era of rapid climate change.
source: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm14/meetingapp.cgi#Paper/11679
h/t to Steve Milloy
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http://news.sciencemag.org/earth/2014/11/updated-appeals-court-overturns-manslaughter-convictions-six-earthquake-scientists
If an earthquake scientist can be convicted of manslaughter and serve 2 years in prison because he undersold the risk of an imminent disaster, can Global Warming scientists be convicted of fraud or worse for overselling the risk of imminent climate catastrophe?
What about the poor guy that got a vasectomy because he was so distraught about imminent climate doom? Does he have a civil case against the alarmists once the gig is up?
Truly, we have a new generation of vipers on our hands.
Harry Passfield said
Google the first author “Kent Peacock Lethbridge”. We have a new clown desperate for his 15 minutes of fame; Mann’s name is enough to get him that even if Mann provides no other input to the show.
the Italian siesmologist who was prosecuted and convicted is instructive here.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/338/6106/451.summary?sid=37eaf82f-f81c-4f2e-bf6a-9b4c136ba38c
but I somehow doubt this is what Mann has in mind, as every scientist and civill engineer realizes that the prosecutors in the L’Aquila case were wrong, not the scientists. Mann seems to suggesting the prosecutors got it right.
Not hilarious at all … but rather, an absolute disgrace.
If Mann had been, say, a professional accountant, he would have long been hauled before his professional body’s disciplinary committee and punished for engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct, for unprofessional behaviour, and for bringing science into disrepute with his sham ‘hockey stick graph’. This would have happened because Mann would have been in breach of the professional body’s code of ethics.
But scientists are not members of a professional body. We know this because they do not need a practising certificate issued from any scientific association in order to practice as a scientist. And they do not have to abide by a code of ethics issued by a professional accounting body.
And that’s why it is an absolute disgrace, that unethical ‘termites’ can engage in false science and behave unethically. The bottom line is that it seems scientists are not accountable to anyone, and it is high time they were held accountable to an authority.
Speaking of climate “drama”:
http://petapixel.com/2014/11/12/melting-away-decade-arctic-antarctic-photography-camille-seaman/
I see they are having a big book-signing today in NYC of the new picture-book “Melting Away”, with Gavin Schmuck moderating.
Because nothing says “global warming” quite like a melting iceberg.
Mann lecturing on climate science ethics.
Should be a very short talk.
Unless he makes up stuff.
“Professional ethics”, the ethics you get paid for…
In a world where nations such as Saudi Arabia, Libya and Iran are on the United Nation’s committee for human rights…
What actually happened during the 15 minutes?
“ED11D-02 Professional Ethics for Climate Scientists”
So this will be a 1 hour overview short course…
Immediately following “How To Lie With Statistics”; an intensive immersion course…
Reading the description, it is clearly intended to be an indoctrination into activism and a disparaging of the traditional neutral search for the truth that typified traditional Science.
(For those offended by my “How To Lie With Statistics” jab: That was an actual section name in my university statistics class… though the intent was to teach us how to spot lying with statistics.)
It is analogous to Obama lecturing on “Ethics For Socialist Community Activists”.
…..Or Bill Ayers lecturing on “Ethics for Communist Explosive Technicians”.
Its like….
Pol Pott giving a lecture on supporting Rural Communities
Mao giving a lecture on Agrarian economics
Saddam Hussein lecturing on Sectarian Tolerance
Tony Blair lecturing on Positive male role models
Obama lecturing on balancing the budget (or is that budgie?)
Fidel Castro lecturing on Economic growth
Idi Amin lecturing on the paleo diet
Stalin giving a lecture on Human Rights
Donald Rumsfield lecturing on Raising living standards (He heard razing)
China lecturing the world on Collaborative Community Urban Development
Malthus lecturing on Compassion
Angela Merkel lecturing on balanced energy markets
Saudi Royal family lecturing on first aid.
I could, but must not, go on….