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The Policy and Politics of Energy and Science

The Policy and Politics of Energy and Science. FSEM 180 Stephen Bradforth. For an understanding why scientists report information the way they do and how society should treat scientific opinion, a good place to start is to know:

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The Policy and Politics of Energy and Science

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  1. The Policy and Politics of Energy and Science FSEM 180 Stephen Bradforth

  2. For an understanding why scientists report information the way they do and how society should treat scientific opinion, a good place to start is to know: 1. How do scientists receive funding and recognition for their work. 2. Where do most scientists work and what motivates them.

  3. Scientists? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjaTDA-9_sk

  4. Pew Survey 2009

  5. Position of the candidates on Energy: From presidential debate 2 – “All of the Above Energy Policy” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19973305 Green Energy subsidies are 15x more expensive per job than fossil fuel subsidies Energy Policy

  6. For an issue that was high on voter’s list of priorities 4 years ago, barely registered this year. • Laugh line for Romney campaign • Hidden from Obama’s current agenda • Re-emerges with Hurricane Sandy Climate Change

  7. What is climate change and do scientists agree about climate change?

  8. “I do believe that the issue of global warming has been politicized. I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects… I think we're seeing it almost weekly or even daily, scientists who are coming forward and questioning the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change”Rick Perry, Texas Governor and GOP candidate for President, last week in NH

  9. One way to get rid of science you don’t like is to abolish an agency that is the biggest source of funding for physical science research in the US (even if you can’t remember its name….) Eliminating the problem

  10. What is the public impression of scientists?

  11. Those surveyed said that scientists: • were apt to be odd and peculiar people (25 percent agreed),
 • had few other interests but their work (29 percent), and
 • were not likely to be very religious people (30 percent). But when asked “if your son or daughter or other family member said they wanted to be a scientist, technician, or an engineer, how pleased would you be?” "Scientist" received the highest level of endorsement, 10, higher than engineer. (80 % of respondents to the 2001 NSF survey said they would be happy with that decision)

  12. Pew Survey 2009

  13. Are the public over-confident in the ability of science and technology to solve all problems: • Developing new energy sources quick enough to deal with diminishing oil and global warming • Taking care of atmospheric pollution • Dealing with population growth and the food supply Too much faith in science?

  14. The role of scientists is not to determine which risks are worth taking, or deciding what choices we should take, but the scientists must be involved in indicating what the possible choices are…. The role of a scientist is not to decide between the possibilities but to determine what the possibilities are. Lord May, 1990 Are scientists honest brokers? The Honest Broker, Rober Pielke Jr, Cambridge University Press

  15. Putting cost on fixing energy crisis in perspective £850 bn = $1.35 tn

  16. Obama renewable energy spending $5.4 bnin 2012 Cost for UK to reach 20% renewable (UK government, $ 35bn) Global costs of averting dangerous climate change (Stern review) $440 bn. Cost to reach global total renewable (McKay Scenario M, $1.5 tn) Cost of 2012 Olympic Games $14 bn Cost of 2012 Presidential Campaign: $2 bn How expensive is solving the energy crisis?

  17. Source MacKayWithout the Hot Air (2009)

  18. Solar is too expensive to meet our current energy needs Renewables simply not enough to come anywhere close to completely meeting our needs fast enough We need another source in the interim Options are: Decreasing coal and increasing gas (lower CO2 emissions) Build out more nuclear Massive effort in conservation (policy) Increased investment in Carbon capture technology and cheaper renewables The Present Situation

  19. Source: BBC News

  20. 4:00 pm: GA, IN, KY, SC, VT, VA • 4:30 pm: NC, OH, WV • 5:00 pm: AL, CT, DE, DC, FL, IL, ME, MD, MA, MS, MO, NH, NJ, OK, PA, RI, TN • 5:30 pm: AR • 6:00 pm: AZ, CO, KS, LA, MI, MN, NE, NM, NY, ND, SD, TX, WI, WY • 7:00 pm: IA, MT, NV, UT • 8:00 pm: CA, HI, ID, OR, WA • 10:00 pm: AK Results Come in at… (PST)

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