I do not understand the argument that the science of climate change "should not be political". Alternatives include "It was OK until it got political" and "(Climate) scientists shouldn't advocate this policy or another, just stick to the facts".
What exactly is the sentiment?
That science shouldn't have any political implications?
That scientists shouldn't be "left-leaning"?
That we'd be better off if climate change was never discovered (or researched)?
It can't be no. 1, since there are obvious historical examples of political science (e.g. Manhatten Project). Scientists are humans and thus advocate for whatever positions they want, so it can't be 2. And 3 is unlikely since those who express this sentiment don't seem to be outright deniers.
I'm not a full-blown "society dictates science" type; indeed I'm mostly a Baconist. However, I still acknowledge that science isn't done in a vacuum, that only certain things get research money, and that the science funded is coupled (at least weakly) to the politics of the day.
11 Oct 2013
8 Oct 2013
BOOK CORNER - Sustainable Energy - without the hot air
David Mackay's Sustainable Energy - without the hot air had a big impact on me when I came across it in 2009. It's a refreshing read that cuts through the propaganda and emotional
appeals that much of the popular media discussion on energy consists of.
Estimating both the current energy demands of the UK, Europe and the world, and available energy resources from renewable and non-renewable sources, he illustrates what a realistic future energy plan must look like.
For example, in estimating contributions from wind power, Mackay first works from his own experience of wind speed from riding a bicycle. Using basic physical reasoning on turbines, optimum wind speed and energy conversion, he deduces realistic outputs and compares them to other estimates. The conclusion that follows is that to make a large contribution to the UK's energy demands, the total wind farm area must be the size of Wales.
It can be read online free (how cool is that?!) here.
Estimating both the current energy demands of the UK, Europe and the world, and available energy resources from renewable and non-renewable sources, he illustrates what a realistic future energy plan must look like.
For example, in estimating contributions from wind power, Mackay first works from his own experience of wind speed from riding a bicycle. Using basic physical reasoning on turbines, optimum wind speed and energy conversion, he deduces realistic outputs and compares them to other estimates. The conclusion that follows is that to make a large contribution to the UK's energy demands, the total wind farm area must be the size of Wales.
It can be read online free (how cool is that?!) here.
GUI MODELS WEBLOGGING
When building a model of the environment, there are many considerations. Is the model deterministic or stochastic? Static or dynamic? Does it include sheep? In short, which aspects of the real world are to be represented in order to achieve the desired result?
Looking at MineCraft gives us a good idea of what should be included. Evidently, a paired multiple-box model with a smaller local scale cellular automata approach gives flexibility and allows a range of phenomena to be demonstrated. Longer-timescale phenomena, such as flows of water within the hydrosphere, can be accurately portrayed using the box model, whilst those on a shorter timescale such as the ocelot-chicken prey-predator relationship can be computed faster using cellular automata.
Looking at MineCraft gives us a good idea of what should be included. Evidently, a paired multiple-box model with a smaller local scale cellular automata approach gives flexibility and allows a range of phenomena to be demonstrated. Longer-timescale phenomena, such as flows of water within the hydrosphere, can be accurately portrayed using the box model, whilst those on a shorter timescale such as the ocelot-chicken prey-predator relationship can be computed faster using cellular automata.
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