Quite disturbing. However, what the authors said governments achieved by silencing scientists via legislation, we have achieved either through ignoring them or denial.
if these points are the Black Score highlights, I can't wait to read the full text ... I think the editors made a hugh mistake leaving this out. The video footage will be be spectacular !
Combining history with future is a good 'genre', a bit like alternative history. I wonder what an alternative history/future version of Black Score could be ? (Yes, I know, I should try to write one before the sea reaches my front gate ...)
thanks Mike. us scientists are a slow lot, but it is gradually dawning on us that there may be merit in finding different ways of talking to people about what we do and just what the Dickens it might all mean
Whenever you are ready, we have a guest post slot waiting for you 😀
I like how this genre allows you to amp up the catastrophe without it feeling quite as confronting. It's like, some of this is clearly wrong, but we'll just go with it because it's like a movie.
thanks David. It's certainly a distinctive genre, a little more up my alley than the burgeoning field of climate fiction. It would be interesting to get a similar version of this from other fire scientists around the world, find out where the areas of agreement and disagreement are (typical scientist, obsessed with quantifying uncertainty!). If we did this we should get them to write a utopian scenario too.
Sadly I probably embody Oreskes and Conway's claim that scientists are far more comfortable being cautious and possibly understating risks than overstating them. Obviously I have tried to work against that instinct with this piece here!
Quite disturbing. However, what the authors said governments achieved by silencing scientists via legislation, we have achieved either through ignoring them or denial.
Another thoughtful read - thanks!
thanks Patrick. That's a great point, and I think partly motivation for Oreskes and Conway (and me) writing in the first place!
Hamish,
if these points are the Black Score highlights, I can't wait to read the full text ... I think the editors made a hugh mistake leaving this out. The video footage will be be spectacular !
Combining history with future is a good 'genre', a bit like alternative history. I wonder what an alternative history/future version of Black Score could be ? (Yes, I know, I should try to write one before the sea reaches my front gate ...)
Great work.
Mike
thanks Mike. us scientists are a slow lot, but it is gradually dawning on us that there may be merit in finding different ways of talking to people about what we do and just what the Dickens it might all mean
Whenever you are ready, we have a guest post slot waiting for you 😀
The Black Score. Nice term that.
I like how this genre allows you to amp up the catastrophe without it feeling quite as confronting. It's like, some of this is clearly wrong, but we'll just go with it because it's like a movie.
thanks David. It's certainly a distinctive genre, a little more up my alley than the burgeoning field of climate fiction. It would be interesting to get a similar version of this from other fire scientists around the world, find out where the areas of agreement and disagreement are (typical scientist, obsessed with quantifying uncertainty!). If we did this we should get them to write a utopian scenario too.
Sadly I probably embody Oreskes and Conway's claim that scientists are far more comfortable being cautious and possibly understating risks than overstating them. Obviously I have tried to work against that instinct with this piece here!