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The Contested History of Science and Global Change

The Contested History of Science and Global Change

College of Arts and Humanities | History Tuesday, May 10, 2011 11:30 am - 12:30 pm 2416, Computer and Space Science (CSS) Building

Dr. Paul N. Edwards, Director of the Science, Technology, and Society Program at the University of Michigan visits UM on Tuesday, May 10th and will give a talk on the controversial history of global warming.

Abstract:
Why does global warming remain controversial despite the scientific consensus on climate change? In this talk, I will first argue that fundamental structures and techniques of climate research — such as the ongoing re-examination and renanalysis of historical data — play a substantial part in keeping climate knowledge controversial. Next I will discuss three climate controversies of the last 15 years: (1) putative discrepancies between temperature retrievals from satellite instruments and from radiosondes, (2) the "hockey stick," and (3) a supposed warm bias in the US historical climate network. In conclusion I'll speculate a bit about the future of climate science in an age when blogs and independent "audits" are challenging traditional peer review systems, even as the prospects for international climate negotiations and carbon-neutral energy futures seem to be dim.


Short Bio:
Professor Paul Edwards directs the Science, Technology, and Society Program at the University of Michigan, where he is also a member of the History Department and the School of Information. In his many publications, Edwards explores the history, politics, and cultural dimensions of scientific and technological research, including computers, information infrastructures, and global climate science. These three interests are combined in his most recent book, A Vast Machine: Computer Models, Climate Data, and the Politics of Global Warming (named a "2010 Book of the Year" by the Economist). Edwards shows how our all of our knowledge about global climate change is based fundamentally on computer models that recreate climate history from historical weather data. He also argues that although such models used to vary greatly in their predictions, in recent years data and models have converged to create a stable, reliable, and trustworthy basis for establishing the reality of global warming. 


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Undergraduate event

Guest speaker for the U-Md STS programs
Dr. Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

"The Contested History and Science of Global Climate Change"
Tuesday, May 10 5:15-6:30pm Physics, Rm. 1412
Talk, Q&A, reception

 

Add to Calendar 05/10/11 11:30 AM 05/10/11 12:30 PM America/New_York The Contested History of Science and Global Change

Dr. Paul N. Edwards, Director of the Science, Technology, and Society Program at the University of Michigan visits UM on Tuesday, May 10th and will give a talk on the controversial history of global warming.

Abstract:
Why does global warming remain controversial despite the scientific consensus on climate change? In this talk, I will first argue that fundamental structures and techniques of climate research — such as the ongoing re-examination and renanalysis of historical data — play a substantial part in keeping climate knowledge controversial. Next I will discuss three climate controversies of the last 15 years: (1) putative discrepancies between temperature retrievals from satellite instruments and from radiosondes, (2) the "hockey stick," and (3) a supposed warm bias in the US historical climate network. In conclusion I'll speculate a bit about the future of climate science in an age when blogs and independent "audits" are challenging traditional peer review systems, even as the prospects for international climate negotiations and carbon-neutral energy futures seem to be dim.


Short Bio:
Professor Paul Edwards directs the Science, Technology, and Society Program at the University of Michigan, where he is also a member of the History Department and the School of Information. In his many publications, Edwards explores the history, politics, and cultural dimensions of scientific and technological research, including computers, information infrastructures, and global climate science. These three interests are combined in his most recent book, A Vast Machine: Computer Models, Climate Data, and the Politics of Global Warming (named a "2010 Book of the Year" by the Economist). Edwards shows how our all of our knowledge about global climate change is based fundamentally on computer models that recreate climate history from historical weather data. He also argues that although such models used to vary greatly in their predictions, in recent years data and models have converged to create a stable, reliable, and trustworthy basis for establishing the reality of global warming. 


-------
Undergraduate event

Guest speaker for the U-Md STS programs
Dr. Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

"The Contested History and Science of Global Climate Change"
Tuesday, May 10 5:15-6:30pm Physics, Rm. 1412
Talk, Q&A, reception