science and the MEDIA

September 2011

Science & the media since 2009

– upping the ante

Dr Pachauri has rapidly distanced himself from

the IPCC's baseless claim about vanishing glaciers.

Strategic hacking of a server at the CRU

at the University of East Anglia.

“Expressing our deep regret at the decision of the German

Minister of Research to re-authorize the controversial

LOHAFEX ocean fertilization expedition.”

Behrenfeld et al. (1996)

How do we get from this

Courtesy J. Cullen (WHOI 2007)

To this?

A range of articles

media interest

communication

article

Editor / proofs

Media interest

“Give me a tanker of iron, and I’ll give you an Ice Age.”

The

resulting

headlines

from a

comment

made in his

best

“Dr.

Strangelove

”accent

media interest

communication

Email then Phone

5 to 30 minute conversation

Ego often over-rides caution

Editorial dislike of terms and conditions

Searching for a quote to fit a story

The PITFALLS

From sentence to sound-bite

“From our results it is possible to show that

Plankton may play a potential role in

climate change”

ARTICLE….. EDITOR…. PROOFS

The PITFALLS

“The Daily Bugle EXCLUSIVE..”

“Plankton change climate”

The PITFALLS

Science language and terms – Fe filings

Misquotes

News agencies and transmutations…

Propagation of error

A different language from our daily science speak

Scientists Trying too hard!!

“Public interest in acidification has been large, but it almost slipped

under our radar, and its only 5th form chemistry you know”

“In the ocean, microbes are like different colours and Venter’s

Study on Sorcerer, has painted the Mona Lisa….”

THE ENERGY CHALLENGE

Recruiting Plankton to Fight Global Warming

NYT May 2007 Matt Richtel

…that creating plankton blooms could release methane and nitrous oxide,

which might increase greenhouse gases. “There are some potentially

dangerous side effects,” said Paul G. Falkowski

Mr. Buesseler said that while carbon might be absorbed initially, there was

ample evidence that when the plankton was eaten or decomposed, at least

some of the carbon wound up going back into the atmosphere.

The financial returns for reducing carbon could be considerable, said Daniel

M. Kammen, a professor at Berkeley. (plus 2 other quotes)

“This is organic gardening, not rocket science,” said Russ George, the chief

executive of Planktos.” (plus 2 other quotes)

“Whoever is serious about this needs to engage the participation of and bring

along the leaders in the oceanographic community,” Mr. Whaley said

Stitching it together with quotes

HICCUPS

“Can I see the proofs….”

Plus 4 major errors of

fact!!

A quote EMAILED TO JOURNALIST:

“Boyd and others have claimed that

Planktos ARE VERY SELECTIVE IN

THEIR USE OF SCIENTIFIC DATA…”

OUT of YOUR HANDS

inclusion of risk in evaluating climate mitigation strategies

SOMETIMES IT ACTUALLY

WORKS OUT

Balance – the need to

have 2 sides to

every story – but does

the quality of the

inputs match?

A level playing field

In the press coverage?

Scientists are becoming more proactive

Some pointers

OFTEN No going back……..

SO Think carefully,

write it down first,

Lose the jargon, simple analogies

try to work with a reputable journalist

But don’t wax too lyrical or slip into

the stereotypical scientist mode..

Science & the media since 2009

– upping the ante

Dr Pachauri has rapidly distanced himself from

the IPCC's baseless claim about vanishing glaciers.

Strategic hacking of a server at the CRU

at the University of East Anglia.

“Expressing our deep regret at the decision of the German

Minister of Research to re-authorize the controversial

LOHAFEX ocean fertilization expedition.”

“ETC Group joined others, including the German Environment

Ministry, expressing its deep regret at the decision of the German

Minister of Research to re-authorize the controversial LOHAFEX

ocean fertilization expedition.”

“Environmentalists were alarmed to learn of yet another ocean

fertilization scheme. This time, it’s the nitrate-rich fertilizer urea that is

to be dumped in the Tasman Sea. Operating under the auspices of the

University of Sydney's Ocean Technology Group ….”

Confusion reigns about

Scientists & Geoengineering

Shape-shifters

Planktos rebrand as an “Ocean Restoration” company

and chose and cite paper to support the rebranding

1 report

on Himalayan glaciers

& meltback

IPCC

AR4

3 volumes

Based on

thousands

of references

Glacier-gate

Strategic Hacking at CRU

What was so bad about the emails?

"I can't see either of these papers being in the next IPCC report. We will keep them

out somehow - even if we have to redefine what peer-review literature is!“

One of these paper s, published in “Climate Research” was so badly flawed that the

scandal resulted in an editorial resignation..

He knew that any incorrect papers by sceptical scientists would be picked up and

amplified by climate change deniers funded by the fossil fuel industry, who often use

all sorts of dirty tricks.

His message gives the impression of confirming a potent meme circulated by those

who campaign against taking action on climate change: that the IPCC process is

biased. From George Monbiot, blog on Guardian

Evolution of Climate-gate

November 2009

17th 19th 20th 21st

Real Climate

reveal hack to

UEA

Press find

„hack story‟

UEA

“No

Comment”

Director of

CCU

incommunicado

I” believe that Jones should speak to every journalist who calls, go on the offensive

and defend his science.

He ought to clearly state that he is not prepared to have his hard-working and

committed colleagues around the world defamed or slandered by the kinds of

people who illegally hack into computers.

This is a desperate, last-ditch tactic by fanatics who have lost the rational debate.”

George Marshall (on www.guardian.online/)

Evolution of Climate-gate

November 2009

17th 19th 20th 21st

Real Climate

reveal hack to

UEA

Press find

„hack story‟

UEA

“No

Comment”

Director of

CCU

incommunicado

Hire PR „fixer‟ company &

Initiate a pre-emptive strike to

Control the message Continue controlling message via

Wide range of interviews for key

Media outlets………………….

Better understanding the dynamics of public belief

The public, when presented with confusing data and competing arguments

about climate change deploy the mental shortcut of believing the people they

most trust. Trust in the communicator is therefore crucial.

“Climate scientists assume that belief will be built on their data and that

public trust is merited by their authority. With the exception of a few

outstanding communicators, they often make no attempt to speak to

deeper values or make an emotional connection with the public – indeed

they see that as contrary to their professional independence.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2009/nov/23/leaked-email-climate-change

Better understanding the dynamics of public belief

The public, when presented with confusing data and competing arguments

about climate change, deploy the mental shortcut of believing the people they

most trust. Trust in the communicator is therefore crucial.

“Climate scientists assume that belief will be built on their data and that

public trust is merited by their authority. With the exception of a few

outstanding communicators, they often make no attempt to speak to

deeper values or make an emotional connection with the public – indeed

they see that as contrary to their professional independence.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2009/nov/23/leaked-email-climate-change

Climate change deniers have always understood this. They use

language that is designed to appeal to deeper values (such as

freedom, progress). The narrative they tell of being determined)

free-thinkers, standing against the tide of oppressive and self-

interested conformity is designed to create an aura of integrity &

trustworthiness.

What else can we do?

“When a journalist I know finally managed to track down Phil Jones,

he snapped "no comment" and put down the phone. This response

is generally taken by the media to mean "guilty as charged". “

Be aware – follow such media/science interactions, read blogs etc,

learnt from mistakes you see

Be prepared - Take a Sci Comm. course & engage with Sci Comm people

AND THUS AVOID