Archive for the ‘Site News’ Category

If You Want to Comment . . .

May 23rd, 2006

Posted by: Roger Pielke, Jr.

A reminder following several emails: If you want to comment you will need to register (click the link from the comment page).

The site remains unmoderated for registered users. We won’t be moderating comments from those who are unregistered.

Comment Policy Issues

May 20th, 2006

Posted by: Roger Pielke, Jr.

All- 99% of our commenters are respectful and thoughtful. We have had a recent increase in nasty comments, and today a somewhat threatening and disturbing comment, from an anonymous commenter named Eli Rabbett who even after several requests from Kevin and I has continued this pattern of behavior.

Unfortunately if these posts continue we will likely have to go to a registration-based comment policy, to ban certain URLs from commenting if they refuse to follow our rules, or publicly expose the identities of anonymous posters who engage in such behavior (and yes, we will). We do not want to go down this route, and would prefer an open site and to allow anonymous comnents.

We respectfully ask that all commenters here help to enforce the comment policy and that we all engage in respectful discussions, even on topics that we disagree about. That is the value of the site, and it would be a shame to see it suffer because of the efforts of very few.

For the immeediate future, Kevin and I will ruthlessly delete any comment deemed out of bounds as we see fit. For just about everyone, this doesn’t matter. For those few others, keep it respectful and substantive, and you are welocme to participate.

Thanks!

Prometheus at 2

May 4th, 2006

Posted by: Roger Pielke, Jr.

We’ve been online for two years. Who would have guessed that Shep’s term project would wind up like this? Thanks once again to our commenters, by far the best on any blog on the web. Keep it up.

For my part, I’m going to celebrate by going offline for a few days. See you next week. ;-)

Summer Break

June 16th, 2005

Posted by: Roger Pielke, Jr.

I am going offline for a few weeks. I’ll be posting again July 5. Meantime, Genevieve, Bets, Kevin, Joel and maybe (if you are lucky) Lisa and Bobbie will be working hard to keep your minds provoked!

John Gibbons at CU-Boulder

April 28th, 2005

Posted by: admin

For readers near Boulder, Dr. John Gibbons, science advisor to President Clinton, will give a talk tonight on campus. Dr. Gibbons is here as part of a series on Policy, Politics and Science in the White House. The talk starts at 7pm in Hale 270.

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In Seattle? Two Talks

April 6th, 2005

Posted by: Roger Pielke, Jr.

I’ll be giving two talks in Seattle later this week, organized by the Forum on Science, Ethics and Policy (for info see the FOSEP website) at the University of Washington. Here are the abstracts:

Politicization of Science: A Perspective
Thursday, April 7, 2005
5:30 – 6:30 pm
UW Physics and Astronomy Auditorium, A102

It seems like science is in public view more so today than in the past, and not always for the best reasons. For example, the Union of Concerned Scientists and Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), have in recent years highlight the “misuse” of science by the Administration of George W. Bush, prompting a vigorous rebuttal. In addition, issues such as scientific advisory panels, prescription drugs, global climate change, stem cell research, and terrorism are forcing science into the public eye. Dr. Pielke’s talk will take a critical perspective on the current state of science, policy, and politics in the United States with a particular emphasis on the role of experts in science in policy and politics.

Dealing with Scientific Uncertainty in Policymaking
Friday, April 8, 2005
10:30 – 11:30 am
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Pelton Auditorium

Uncertainty is ever present in decision making. But even as scientists typically have sophisticated understandings of uncertainty itself, such understandings are infrequently accompanied by a corresponding sophistication in decision making in the face of uncertainty. This talk will discuss a range of experiences in dealing with scientific uncertainty in policymaking to suggest how the scientific community might more effectively contribute useful guidance on important policy issues characterized by fundamental uncertainties. Dr. Pielke’s talk will emphasize both the use of science in decision making, but also decisions that are made about science, typically under an expectation that the results of resulting research will inform decision making. Consequently, issues of values, ethics and politics are inescapable when one confronts scientific uncertainty in policy making.

Webcast of John Marburger Interview

April 5th, 2005

Posted by: admin

A webcast is now available online of John Marburger’s talk and interview as part of our Science Advisors Series.

John Gibbons, one of President Clinton’s science advisors, is up next later this month.

Rhetoric and the Politicization of Science

February 7th, 2005

Posted by: admin

2005 American Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology (AARST)
Workshop: Rhetoric and the Politicization of Science
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 – Boston, MA

The controversy over the “politicization” of science advice and policy under
the Bush administration provides an opportunity for rhetoricians of science to
engage with a broader public discourse about the role of science in society.
The American Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology is
soliciting proposals for its 2005 pre-conference, held on Nov. 16 in
conjunction with the annual meeting of the National Communication Association
in Boston, MA. Desired proposals include but are not limited to the following
types:

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Rhetoric of Science and Technology

January 18th, 2005

Posted by: admin

CALL FOR PAPERS AND PANEL PROPOSALS
National Communication Association Conference
November 17-20, 2005 in Boston, MA USA

The American Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology invites submission of program proposals and papers. Submissions may cover any area of rhetoric of science and technology, including the rhetorical analysis of science policy debates, the analysis of scientific texts, the transfer of scientific rhetoric into literary or other contexts, and the rhetorical impact of popular representations of science. We encourage submissions concerning traditional fields (such as physics and biology) and also emerging topics in areas such as environmental science, computer science, information technology, genetics, neuroscience and medicine. In particular, we are especially interested in papers and panels that explore the nexus between science, politics, and public policy.

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Balancing Water Law and Science

January 18th, 2005

Posted by: admin

Balancing Water Law and Science
– National Water Research Symposium –
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center
October 10-12, 2005
Virginia Tech Inn and Skelton Conference Center, Blacksburg, Virginia

Call for Papers

In 1899, the U.S. Congress passed the first statutory environmental law, The Refuse Act. Since then, several federal laws and regulations have been promulgated in the U.S. to manage the nation’s water quantity and water quality, to secure water supplies for an increasing population and enhance economic productivity, and to protect and preserve the nation’s diverse ecosystems. At the same time, significant advances in water science have improved our understanding of water resource issues. However, across the U.S., questions have been raised about the scientific validity of certain regulations and the socio-economic costs attributed to the implementation of some water resource regulations.

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