Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumHeartland Hack Wants To "Debate" Warming @ Science Journalism Meet; Response A Thing Of Beauty
EDIT
First the request:
Dear John,
Please see attached invite and draft agenda for an exciting and timely event, the 2018 Journalists and Editors Workshop scheduled for March 27- 28, 2018. We would love to have you moderate what is sure to be a dynamic conversation and I would be happy to discuss further by phone or email if you have any questions.
Please let us know if you are available to moderate and thank you for your consideration!
Sincerely,
Frank O. Mora
Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs
Florida International University
Miami, FL
Heres the response from John Morales
Mr. Mora,
Im going to respond the only way I know how to: speaking frankly.
I have serious misgivings about this. The Heartland Institute is actively working to keep Americans confused on the state of the science of climate change. Just last year they sent a mass mailing to K-12 teachers across the U.S. looking to instill doubt in the teaching of the science. Their position goes against the overwhelming scientific consensus that the globe is unequivocally warming and that it is extremely likely that humans are causing it. And while its important for scientists to be skeptics, Mr. Taylor is *not* a scientist. He is an attorney, with *one* course (the only one Dartmouth offers) in meteorology. Natalia Lever, on the other hand, is a biologist with additional training in sustainability.
Having FIU give equal footing in a debate to a Heartland Institute Juris Doctor is, in my opinion, a *disservice* to the journalists and editors in the audience. It only perpetuates what has been a huge problem with the press: False Balance. Also known as False Equivalency, it occurs when reporters, in their zeal to file a balanced news story, provide equal footing to fringe views that are overwhelmingly negated by the weight of the evidence.
So, I respectfully decline your invitation to serve as moderator. And I hope youll reconsider the entire premise of having this non-scientist with a clear political agenda debate the science of climate change as it relates to extreme weather events. Perhaps you can find a slot for him to present, as opposed to debate, which would still give him an opportunity to speak.
I would be happy to participate in your workshop in other ways. Since its designed for journalists, I would be happy to provide a short training on the scientific method, and how to properly cover science in media. I also have several talks prepared on climate, including my visit to the Arctic in 2016.
Im sure this wasnt the response you were expecting, and for that Im sorry. But I feel strongly that we must find ways to improve scientific literacy in the Americas, and especially in the United States. The Keynote Conversation you propose would not serve that purpose well at all.
With respect,
John Morales, CBM, CCM
AMS Fellow Chief Meteorologist
WTVJ NBC 6, Miami
This made news in Miami as well with this piece in the Miami Herald and this as well.
John tells me that Frank Mora and the university respected his decision and he has agreed to give a talk to the audience about science and the scientific method. Perfect!
I know several meteorologists and researchers (me included) whove turned down appearance requests similar to this because the event was a false balance. A good friend (Detroit Meteorologist Paul Gross) was told that his invited talk to a high school class on science was to be followed by a rebuttal from the parent of one of the students! Paul explained that what hed be telling the students was well understood peer-reviewed science. Take your pick he said, but not both.
EDIT
https://blogs.agu.org/wildwildscience/2018/03/23/miami-meteorologist-john-morales-says-no-to-false-balance/
Response to hatrack (Original post)
Wounded Bear This message was self-deleted by its author.
Mountain Mule
(1,002 posts)I am fed up with the media giving equal time to bozo's who are simply apologists for Exxon Oil and wouldn't know science from a seance.
mountain grammy
(26,661 posts)and happy it made the news.. Time for the ignorance to end.