Upcoming Events
Events
Climate Science Communication Workshop - abstracts
September 24, 2010
Prof. Neville Nicholls
Global Warming Unplugged
Abstract:
I am often asked, by taxi drivers, by friends or family at lunches or on bushwalks, by journalists, or by strangers sitting next to me on a plane or bus, to explain why scientists are so confident that we understand the greenhouse effect and what it means for the future climate. So, how do I explain the science of global warming to a taxi driver, in a 15-minute trip to the airport, without using graphs or videos or equations or even pen & paper?
Bio:
Neville Nicholls is National President of AMOS, and an Australian Research Council Professorial Fellow at Monash University. He is an editor of a new journal Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, and has been a Lead Author or Coordinating Lead Author on several IPCC assessments
Dr. Tahl Kestin
“Minding the gap” – Improving engagement between climate scientists and decision makers
Abstract:
Scientists are often frustrated by the “communication gap” between the scientific information they provide and how decision-makers (mis)understand it. However, this gap is better characterised as a difference between what scientists provide and what decision makers need. A variety of studies have shown that bridging the gap requires more direct and intensive approaches to communication and engagement with decision makers than what scientists are generally used to. In this talk I will look at how the communication problem manifests in relation to climate change science, and look at approaches and examples of how it can be overcome.
Bio:
Tahl trained as a climatologist at Monash University and the Bureau of Meteorology, and has since worked on climate communication at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the nonprofit ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and the Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI)
Prof. John Thwaites
Climate science engagement with politics
Abstract:
As a consultant, John has advised clients on issues relating to climate change, water, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. He chairs a project with the Brotherhood of St Laurence developing policies to assist low income Australians to cope with the impact of climate change and has previously advised the Timor-Leste Minister for Infrastructure in the development of an infrastructure plan for Timor-Leste. During his time in Victorian state politics, Professor Thwaites was responsible for major reforms in social policy, health, environment and water.
Bio:
John Thwaites is a Professorial Fellow, Monash University, and Chair of ClimateWorks Australia and the Monash Sustainability Institute. He was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 until his retirement in 2007. During this period he was Victoria’s first Minister for Climate Change.
Mr. Chris Sounness
Communicating climate to rural communities. - Bringing together Oceans and Dogs
Abstract:
The talk will highlight the value of delivering climate and emissions sessions plus other tools including “The Break” newsletter to 10,000 people across the state on topics such as climate change, seasonal risk, key climate drivers, climate policy and emissions/carbon in farming. A survey was undertaken of 1500 Victorian farmers to better understand their knowledge of climate and emissions issues and responses shows the successes so far but also highlight some serious gaps in knowledge. Our communication and extension activities have focussed around the oceans and climate drivers and how they affect local climate. We work by taking local climate data and relating that to key ocean and pressure data in a process we call "upscaling". We also have developed a series of animations around the climate dogs which will be previewed
Bio:
Chris Sounness has worked with DPI since 1994 in Agricultural extension. SInce 2005 he has been a leader in communicating seasonal climate risk managment and extension information to grain growers. Over the last five years has become an advocate of sea surface temperature maps and the need for everyone to understand both variability and change when it comes to understanding and communicating climate issues.
Mr. Adam Morton
Climate Science and the media
Abstract:
News journalism is adversarial, provocative and looks for controversy. In most cases, it has to have something original to say, but also has to start from scratch – it can’t assume that the people digesting it have any pre-existing knowledge. Perhaps it is not surprising that it often fails to properly deal with the certainties and uncertainties of a complex area of science. Issues in communicating climate change include establishing what constitutes balanced coverage of a highly contentious area, avoiding falling for ideology and tackling what is a challenge for journalists and the public alike – scientific illiteracy.
Bio:
Adam Morton is The Age’s environment reporter. He covered the Copenhagen climate conference and the ETS debate. He has twice won the United Nations Association of Australia environment media award.
Prof. Stephan Lewandowsky
The psychology of climate change communication and “skepticism”
Abstract:
What motivates the seemingly growing number of climate “skeptics”? How is climate science best communicated in the face of contrarian voices that are small in number but highly organized and vocal? Do we need to communicate the science at all, or is there a better way forward? Psychology and cognitive science can contribute a number of insights and recommendations that are relevant to those questions.
Bio:
Stephan Lewandowsky is an Australian Professorial Fellow and Winthrop Professor at the University of Western Australia. He has published some 100 papers on how people remember and think, with a particular emphasis on the role of skepticism in the updating of memories.