Climate Science and the Transfer of Knowledge to Public and Political Realms

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a survey of the perspectives of climate scientists on the topic of global warming. It addresses both internal and external elements of the science. A total of 412 responses from climate scientists in Canada, USA and Germany are analyzed. Differences among those groups with higher levels of involvement with policy makers, with the media, and the less vocal members of the scientific community are the focus of this paper. Statistically significant differences were found among these three groups on a number of pertinent issues. These differences were more often among those areas which were beyond the areas of the scientists' areas of expertise. More precisely differences were found in: The assessment that global warming is a process already underway, the nature of the impacts of climate change, the knowledge transfer process, and the conduct of the climate sciences. These perspectives are of considerable importance for they relate to the transfer of scientific knowledge to the public and political..realms. In short, this paper contributes to the discussion of the socio-scientific construction of the climate change issue.

The paper describes the data collection method and provides a description of the sample. In the results, a series of t-tests are used to identify differences that exist among three identified groups; 1. those scientists with a high level of contact with the media; 2. those scientists with a high level of contact with policy makers, and; 3. those scientists with a low level of external contact outside of the scientific community. Greater differences were found when considering the extension of knowledge to matters outside of the scientists' areas of expertise.

This analysis raises the question of how scientific knowledge is transformed into high levels of public and political significance. This transition could not, as of yet, be attributed to the human experience since the experience of any expression of climate change, with the exception of extreme events (a highly contested relationship), is typically well below the thresholds of human climatic perception. However, it could not be denied that the issue of climate change has had, and creates the potential, for significant social impacts.

What we discuss in this paper represents only one aspect of the science-politico-society triad. More specifically, we address the role of the human element in the interpretation of scientific “fact” or, even more specifically, the scientific construction of the climate change issue. Not only do we suggest, in light of the now globalness of many contemporary issues, the requirement to make assessments of all of the triadic interactions, but also to address the process by which multiple interpretations stem from a single scientific artifact.

“The questions [in this survey] are very much flawed as subjective, and the replies will constitute nothing more than an opinion poll. Hence, I put very little credence in these results as having much bearing on affecting our work.” (sic) case usa072: US physicist with more than 20 years in the field.

“This survey contributes to the problem. The questions are worded very precisely. There is the potential for misusing the results of this survey.” case usa079: US physicist with 0–5 years experience.

“Thank you for the opportunity to respond in this survey.” case usa096: US meteorologist with more than 20 years experience.

“There should be more surveys like this” case usa098: US meteorologist with 11–15 years experience.

“This is a good survey and I hope you repeat it in about 10 years.” case usa127: US meteorologist with more than 20 years experience.