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the Statue
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the Statue

Sing a Sad Song for Science

Don Maurer

    Albert arrived early at their usual meeting place. Looking forward to a round of consummate brain storming with two intellectual giants. “Ironic that Galileo contemplated the priesthood in his youth. His astronomical observations and improvement to telescopes built his reputation as a leading scientist of his time (1600). His views of the Earth’s movement around the sun caused much consternation in philosophical and religious quarters. He’s the Father of modern science.”
    “And Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac Newton if you please. Offered insights into physics, mathematics, natural philosophy, and even alchemy. His publication of the Phlosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica defined the laws of motion challenging scientists for over 300 years. No mean feat for either process. And I get to hobnob with these two distinguished boffins. What did I do to deserve such company.” ... “Over here Isaac.”
    “Galileo’s late again Albert. Thinks he’s still under house arrest. After five centuries you’d think he’d get over it.”
    “Those Dominicans played rough,” Albert said. “Galileo’s lucky he wasn’t starring in an auto da fe.”
    “Isaac can’t you find anything more uplifting to do than changing base metal to gold? I thought you gave alchemy up several centuries ago. All those wickedly smelling so-called transmutations.” Isaac scowled at his colleague before answering.
    “What about you Albert? You’re still trying to reconcile gravity and quantum mechanics when all the really bright, young people are pursuing M and string theory. And that bogus cosmological constant you drummed up to satisfy the cosmologists had to go. You really should be ashamed of yourself.” Before Albert could answer they were joined by Galileo.
    “Gentlemen. You’ll never guess what I did today,” he enthusiastically exclaimed. “Discovered another solar system. Only this time it’s geocentric.”
    “Galileo,” Albert broke in worriedly. “That observation will get the Vatican’s back up again after they finally acknowledged in 1992 that you weren’t guilty of heresy supporting Copernicus’s heliocentric system for our sun.”
    “Anyway guys,” Galileo responded, “there are more important matters to discuss than the activities of three old has-beens.”
    “Well in your case you were a never-was,” Isaac teased him.
    “I’d rather be a has-been than a never-was,” Albert quipped.
    Galileo ignored them. “There’s been a serious erosion in the public’s confidence in U. S. science. A few years ago 47% Americans supported scientific advances among the nation’s top achievements. Support’s declined to 27%. In 2009 40% Americans didn’t trust what scientists say about the environment. This increased from 30% a year and a half ago. A 2011 national test showed some improvement from two years earlier as one third of eighth graders lacked a basic understanding of the physical, life and earth sciences and 27% performed below the basic level in mathematics. International surveys indicated that U. S. teens regularly scored below average in scientific literacy. Research by the National Scientific Board demonstrated that the level of scientific literacy among adults wasn’t very encouraging either.”
    “Just explaining or citing the benefits of scientific research more stridently isn’t enough to reduce science-society tension,” Gallileo continued. “Members of the scientific community generally agree about climate change, evolution and stem cell research, but the public at large has serious questions and legitimate reservations about these issues. Science has to do a better job of listening to, respecting and responding to public concerns.”
    “Galileo I certainly agree about the chasm between science and society, but in all fairness it should go both ways,” Isaac replied. “ It took the church almost five centuries to acquit you. Darwin’s 1859 book On the Origin of Species radically changed man’s perception of himself. It was controversial then and after 150 years it remains so. An international survey of mostly western countries in 2006 showed that the U. S. had the lowest level of support for the theory of evolution. Forty percent of Americans considered the theory false. This from a country consistently producing Nobel Prize Laureates.” The three colleagues were quiet for a moment focusing on the discussion at hand.
    “Gentlemen,” Albert broke the silence. “the great majority of life scientists accept the process of evolution as the fundamental paradigm of their discipline.”
    “Albert is there something science can do to induce a mega-change in attitude about this important issue?” Galileo asked
    “Yes there is. Science must persist to communicate its benefits.”
     “In particular medical science has produced an admirable array of drugs and medical protocols extending life expectancy and improving the quality of life (Fleming-penicillin; Drew-blood transfers; Salk-polio vaccine; deVries-artificial transplant; human genome project; ...). People, who would’ve died earlier without these advances, have enjoyed sustainable health into their senior years. This science was performed under the paradigm of evolution. More recently evidence is mounting concerning stronger resistance of bacteria to anti-biotics. What worked years (50-60 yrs) simply doesn’t do the job any more requiring new drugs or various combinations of older ones.”
    “Galileo and Isaac it may be useful to ease the science-society tension in this matter by emphasizing that supporting evolution is not mutually exclusive with religion. We all know scientists who support evolution and attend the services of their faith.”
    “Be careful,” Isaac dryly cautioned. “Messieurs Dawkins and Hawking might hear you. They’d be all over you for such rationalizing.” Albert who subscribed to his own view of religion smiled knowingly.
    “Now that we’ve convincingly resolved science-society tension over evolution,” Albert archly asserted, “let’s direct our attention to climate change.”
    “Albert since you raised the question and we pre-date the industrial revolution perhaps you’d be in a better position to lead this discussion,” Galileo suggested.
     “Isaac look at the lengths our colleague will go to pass the buck.”
    “No Albert. Galileo’s right. You’re the man!”
    “Surrounded by villains,” Albert amiably replied.
    “You just want us to beg you,” Isaac charged. Albert feigned a hurt look but composed himself to begin.
    “There are a number of issues related to the public’s resistance to climate change/global warming; scientific, economic and political. Science has inadequately explained the phenomenon. In fact the public frequently use weather and climate interchangeably. Moreover psychological studies have showed that people respond differently depending on whether the word climate change or global warming is used. Finally there’s a political bent to the topic where democrats support global warming and republicans don’t.”
    “Scofflaws even cite below average cold winters as prima facies evidence presumably contradicting climate change,” Isaac offered. “And reputable atmospheric scientists believe cyclic sun spot processes may play a role.” Albert and Galileo nodded assent.
    Albert continued. “Major changes in climate have occurred throughout geologic time. More recently our planet experienced the Pleistocene Ice Age between 2-3 million years ago. This period saw the advance and recession of massive continental glaciers. U.S. glaciologists recognize at least four major advances and recessions in North America alone.”
     “Within the past 10-15,000 years the world has entered an interglacial period. As a result global climate has warmed naturally reducing the size and magnitude of continental and mountain glaciers. This occurred well before 1850 the historical starting point of the industrial revolution. While earth and physical scientists accept this, it hasn’t been adequately communicated to the public at large. Huge and rapid climate changes have naturally occurred in the past.”
    “Albert even those who understand the effect of interglacial warming on glacial recession are skeptical about man’s role influencing climate change.” Isaac stated. “In view of these large scale, physical factors influencing this process, the public can’t conceive that man could possibly accelerate this natural heat engine.”
    “Science has to do a better job to convince the public,” Albert answered.
    “Climate change is a fact not speculation. Since 1850 man’s activities have almost doubled the emission of carbon dioxide and other gasses into the atmosphere. These rates are faster than ones predating the industrial revolution.”
    “Galileo not withstanding acceptance of glacial recession by scientists, I think the public has become refractory to the message.”
    “Albert you believe this?”
    “I’m forced to Galileo. Science has to take a different tack. The public doesn’t want to hear about glaciers any more.”
    “That message in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report about Himalayan glaciers melting by 2100 did not help the credibility of the debate,” Isaac charged. “Moreover the revelation about some climate scientists presumably concealing adverse data riled the public up, increasing the resistance of nay-sayers, and probably induced some people neutral on the subject to join the dark side.”
    “Science deserved the criticism Isaac,” Albert offered. “It has to be more aware how harmful inaccurate information can be and purge any attempt to conceal data that doesn’t support the main argument. Science must be more transparent in its mechanics and win back the public’s trust to convince them about this argument. By the way a more recent IPCC report in 2013 is even more adamant about global warming and man’s activities.”
    “All right Albert,” Isaac said. “I’m sure you have some ideas how to address this problem.” Albert vainly tried to hide his smile. Isaac and Galileo outed him and they all laughed.
    “Perhaps focusing on a smaller scale, closer to home would be more convincing,” Albert began. “Large metropolitan areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas. Due to man’s activities the human carbon footprint of the 21st century is radically different than in 1800. Large cities produce heat engines and dust domes influencing weather and in the long run regional climate downwind. So! As Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington expanded, their effects essentially coalesced forming a climatic megalopolis 456 miles (733 KM) along the eastern seaboard and ever widening westwardand southward. Other examples come to mind. San Diego to Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. The Midwest nexus of Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Indianapolis. Coastal Florida. Now we’re talking tens of hundreds/thousands of square km. Other examples of such heat clusters occur throughout the world. Man can certainly directly influence weather and climate at least at the regional level.”
    “Albert. For other reasons man is influencing regional climate,” Galileo added. “Extensive logging in the Amazon Basin and other tropical climes has measurably increased temperature and aridity in the processed areas. Similar effects have been produced in Madagascar. Long before the disastrous Haitian earthquake relentless logging increased temperature and aridity there. ... I like this approach Albert. It demonstrates how real man’s activities have been influencing regional weather and climate and with expanding populations, the effects will become greater.”
    “Thank you Galileo. But science has been remiss focusing on melting glaciers and subsequent sea level rise to the exclusion of other evidence. One rarely sees in any popular accounts sea level rise associated with thermal expansion of the sea surface. Everything appears to hinge on glacial melting when oceanographers inform us that thermal expansion plays a significant role at least under present rates of warming.”
    “Continental regions and higher latitudes are projected to warm more than coastal regions and the tropics,” Albert continued. “Some areas will receive more intense precipitation and increased humidity whereas others will have an increased risk of drought. Southwestern U. S. commonly experiences drought. With climate change drought is predicted more frequently and over a larger area.
    The economic effect on an expanding SW population will be very heavy.”
    “Albert climate warming will alter the timing of important development or behavioral processes in birds, plants, amphibians and insects,” Isaac stated. “The average first flowering date of 385 British plant species has advanced by 4.5 days during the past decade (1990-2000). This may appear to be a miniscule amount in the eyes of the public, but these data reveal a strong biological signal of climatic change. These studies are just the tip of a ...”
    “Don’t say it Isaac,” Albert interrupted, “enough already of ice bergs.”
    “Isaac’s right Albert,” Galileo offered. “Science is already documenting diseases in a variety of biota with climatic links. Examples include butterflies, lions, sea fans to name a few. More importantly any link between climate change and human pathogens is receiving attention, although no correlation with an increase in malaria has been demonstrated from predictive models yet. Still lots of studies out there over and beyond glaciation.”
    “Albert there are a couple of other factors at work related to the public’s dissatisfaction with science in general and resistance to global warming in particular,” Isaac said. “While existing and developing technology are available to reduce the human carbon footprint and its link to climate change, the public believes it will be too costly to resolve the problem. Accordingly if it’s not related to human behavior, there appears to be no immediate need to encumber society with an additional tax burden. Conservation alone which is not always easy to practice would presumably suffice.”
    “Related to this economic argument there is the political one. If the majority plebiscite sees no need to ameliorate conditions reducing climate change, politicians will move slowly or not at all to address this problem. Moreover some people believe governmental action to legislate reducing the use of conventional fuels is simply another effort to promote more governmental control. They are unalterably opposed to unnecessary legislation for that reason alone.”
    The three colleagues were silent for a bit mulling over the provocative discussion just presented. As usual precocious Albert was the first to break the silence.
    “Gentlemen if in the next decade science can retrieve its good name, it may be possible to convince the public that natural forces of global warming are being significantly enhanced by human activities, then science will have accomplished a worthy achievement.”
    “Can’t happen too soon Albert. Eighty-seven % of scientists think that climate change is caused mostly by human activity,” Galileo responded. “Only 50% of the public agrees.
    “Now that we’ve once again convincingly resolved science-society tension over climate change/global warming,” Isaac archly asserted, “let’s direct our attention to one last topic – stem cell research.”
    “I’m wiped out guys,” Albert hurried to reply, “one of you will have to lead this discussion.”
    “Well Isaac since you raised the topic, you introduce it,” Galileo was quick to suggest.
    “If promoting evolution as a valid concept wasn’t challenging enough,” Isaac began, “promoting stem cell research is Mt. Everest.” “The biochemistry and physiology of pluripotent embryonic stem cells permits them to be used to make other kinds of cells from bone to blood to muscles and neurons. The potential for application to human maladies is diverse and multitudinous.”
    “Sounds promising to me,” Galileo responded. “What’s the problem?
    Why the resistance?”
    “The problem dear colleague,” Albert patiently offered, “is that people are concerned about the origin of stem cells. Since embryonic stem cells are preferred for research, the public fears increased harvesting from induced aborted fetuses. This translates to a distrust of medical science and doctor’s to conspire to favor this source.”
    “Isaac. I’m kind of fuzzy on stem cell research. I thought they can also be harvested and developed from adults which clearly circumvents problems associated with embryonic ones.”
    “Your quite right Galileo. This is an active area of research. Moreover life scientists are also presently working with stem cells from other mammals.”
    “Diverse pathways and multiple alternative hypotheses should always be pursued in research,” Albert wisely suggested.
    “Life scientists and medical research will have to provide strong documentation of the successful application of embryonic stem cells to human maladies,” Isaac continued. “At present there have been some breakthroughs. The full potential of this research awaits us. The results of stem cell research have already been applied to cancer patients. Science must be very careful not to promise too much too soon or more than they can honestly deliver. Failure to do so will only increase resistance to these protocols making even documented claims difficult to accept. Moreover, if embryonic stem cells persist as the most effective source for this research, science must make every effort to demonstrate that fetuses naturally aborted are used rather than induced ones.”
    “That’s quite a mouthful my friend,” Albert sympathetically opined. “Much of what you say rings true. If medical science increases the transparency of its protocols and accurately documents successes, then they just may convince the majority that this is the most expeditious way to go. Without the public’s trust and support progress for stem cell application will be slow and very difficult.”
    “Gentlemen,” Galileo said, “scientists will have to spend more time interacting with the public than ever before. If science expects to make their case with the public, it must engage in open, face-to-face dialogue with opinion leaders, policy makers, school boards, the clergy and media. For example 86% of scientists think vaccines should be required for some medical cases whereas only 68% of the public share that same view.”
    “Galileo if there’s any good news in this sad lament we’ve chorused,” Isaac exclaimed, “you may be encouraged to know that the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has lobbied its members to aggressively address science-society tension about the issues we’ve discussed and others. AAAS has outlined several viable approaches coincidentally seeking funding from its members to pursue public engagement with science. This is a major undertaking on the part of U. S. science.”
    “Well then,” Albert sighed. “We’ve done good. Perhaps a dollop of our favorite libation would be in order to help relax from our labors and soothe our thirsty palates. Ale for you Isaac? Some Gallo for you Galileo? No pun intended dear friend.”
    “None accepted meus amicus.”
    “And maybe a fine Riesling for myself. ... Isaac! Away so fast with only one flagon?”
    “Pardon my haste. Must take my leave. Just received a heads up identifying a possible lead on the whereabouts of The Philosopher’s Stone. Simply can’t pass this opportunity up as the definitive protocol for my alchemy experiments.” With that Isaac hustled off.
    “I certainly hope he doesn’t succumb to closet drinking again,” Galileo exclaimed. “One can only imagine the nature of his transmutation experiments. He might be a very different Isaac the next time we meet.”
    “Drink your Gallo my good fellow,” Albert warmly encouraged. “What are you up to?”
    “You were right Albert. Rome’s calling. The church fathers are uneasy about my recent discovery of a new geocentric solar system. Seems they want to talk to me.”
    “Not again Galileo! Sounds ominous. It might mean another five centuries of house arrest before we meet again. Be sure you provide yourself with a competent lawyer’s phone number and a goodly supply of Gallo for whatever fate awaits you.” With that Galileo ambled away.
    “My! This Riesling goes down easy. Just another stein and I’ll be ready to address ... Let me see. Ah yes! M and String Theory.” With that Albert poured one more stein for the road.



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