Actually, it is not surprising the ScienceDebate did not materialize. There’s a better way forward. Average citizens are untrained in the sciences, and they are NOT clamoring to be engaged in science. A small number of so-called “citizen scientists” are not enough to improve dismal science literacy rates.

Something not yet developed is needed to draw the broader public into rational, logical discussions – that they recognize as relevant to their own existence. The cost of gasoline and overall energy costs will start conversations that can evolve with help from ‘citizen scientists’. In a similar way, the absurd logic about cholesterol is about to ‘crash’ from its illogical position. Again, ‘citizen scientists’ can help the public start conversations that will evolve into better understanding of how to PREVENT the $400 billion losses to heart disease – - that is NOT caused by cholesterol.

Once the public really wants to know something, they will listen to reason. THEN, teaching can help learning occur!

Actually, it is not surprising the ScienceDebate did not materialize. There’s a better way forward. Average citizens are untrained in the sciences, and they are NOT clamoring to be engaged in science. A small number of so-called “citizen scientists” are not enough to improve dismal science literacy rates.

Something not yet developed is needed to draw the broader public into rational, logical discussions – that they recognize as relevant to their own existence. The cost of gasoline and overall energy costs will start conversations that can evolve with help from ‘citizen scientists’. In a similar way, the absurd logic about cholesterol is about to ‘crash’ from its illogical position. Again, ‘citizen scientists’ can help the public start conversations that will evolve into better understanding of how to PREVENT the $400 billion losses to heart disease – - that is NOT caused by cholesterol.

Once the public really wants to know something, they will listen to reason. THEN, teaching can help learning occur!

First, there is indeed a deluge of conflicting information. We scientists are also deeply conflicted about the issue of hurricanes and global warming. There is strong evidence from a variety of methods that the warming over the last 25 years or so has brought about an increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes, particularly in the Atlantic. But when we run various models forward in time to predict conditions 100 years from now, some of them actually produce fewer hurricanes, while others predict more. All of them predict that hurricanes will become more intense and produce much more rain, but just how much more intense varies greatly from one model to the next.

It often happens early in a scientific investigation of a phenomenon – in this case, the effect of global warming on hurricanes – that estimates of the effect are conflicting and confusing. We are certainly in that stage now on this issue. But if history is any guide, we will come slowly to understand the problem better and these differences will gradually diminish. But for now, there is no definitive answer, alas.

Kerry Emanuel

First, there is indeed a deluge of conflicting information. We scientists are also deeply conflicted about the issue of hurricanes and global warming. There is strong evidence from a variety of methods that the warming over the last 25 years or so has brought about an increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes, particularly in the Atlantic. But when we run various models forward in time to predict conditions 100 years from now, some of them actually produce fewer hurricanes, while others predict more. All of them predict that hurricanes will become more intense and produce much more rain, but just how much more intense varies greatly from one model to the next.

It often happens early in a scientific investigation of a phenomenon – in this case, the effect of global warming on hurricanes – that estimates of the effect are conflicting and confusing. We are certainly in that stage now on this issue. But if history is any guide, we will come slowly to understand the problem better and these differences will gradually diminish. But for now, there is no definitive answer, alas.

Kerry Emanuel

Has Global Warming caused an increase on the number of hurricanes? The intensity? Can scientists even agree on a protocol for evaluation? What’s a would-be informed citizen to believe?

Has Global Warming caused an increase on the number of hurricanes? The intensity? Can scientists even agree on a protocol for evaluation? What’s a would-be informed citizen to believe?