Seeking the Forces of Science with the SciSchmooze

Herb Masters
12 May 2024

Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes

Greetings Fans of Science, Reason, and Critical Thinking,

Scientific research and innovation advance our economic, social and cultural wellbeing, provide health benefits and are key to a sustainable long-term future. However, we live in times of great geopolitical, technological, environmental and demographic change, and the values that have driven science for the benefit of humanity are under threat.

Just what is s c ience?

Are you feeling like some of your most trusted guideposts are under attack? It does seem like what we are fans of here is under a real threat these days. How do you decide what to believe, is going on in the world makes sense or is in all of our best interest? What is this thing we call “fact checking”? It certainly seems important to me. We seem to have arrived at one of those times in history when looking from the inside out, it’s hard to imagine that there are two pretty distinct routes, and a lot of nuance, to the future. It’s becoming harder for me to read one article or watch one program without wondering how it looks from another angle, or the other side of history. How can there be such an incredible disagreement about how the universe works at our local and personal levels? How can there be such disagreement and lack of respect? How can there be such a lack of perspective?

First, in case you missed it, Al Gore at San Francisco Climate Week is, I think, worth your time. (Note that I jumped to his speech and skipped the pleasantries!-) Here is a list of some others that I think merit attention…

Unprecedented budget cuts to US science

NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones

Scientists working on disrupted national climate and nature assessments aren’t giving up.

What are the long-term impacts for the United States and the world?

Before we begin, a primer on the science of arranging an interview with a sitting American president:

There are things to be done. Have you considered any of these?

As always, the SF Bay Area has an amazing range of opportunities to learn and get involved. This time of the year it’s hard to choose. Here are a few of many that I think are worth your consideration…

A special announcement!!! Skeptics in the Pub is returning this coming Tue evening. This is a casual night of socializing and feasting with fellow Bay Area folk in an Irish Pub on the Peninsula. It’s a place where you can meet interesting people and discuss Science, Reason, and Critical Thinking over a finely crafted Guinness and some excellent food in Millbrae.

Here are two interesting takes on one item… We seem to be having a difficult time with what look like conflicting interpretations of something that seems pretty similar… Consider these A first-of-its-kind survey reveals just how glued kids are to their phones and Study: Kids With Smartphones Are Less Depressed, Anxious, Bullied Than Peers Without Them. Normally I would ramble on more but there are many sources out there writing about some of what seem to be big challenges these days. So I offer up what I think are some items I hope you may find interesting. Maybe they will spark some conversations. Hopefully some disagreement too!

But wait… There’s more…!

A tale of creative cryopreservation, Transylvania’s 16th-century weather reports, and dancing turtles.

A Philosophy of Planetary Computation: From Antikythera to Synthetic Intelligence

The Ocean Spectacle that Has Entranced Sailors for Centuries

The janitor who changed the world of science

Fitness Doesn’t Have to Be about Denial and Shame

The Origins of some Travel Superstitions

Forests taking longer to recover from severe ‘megafires’ since 2010

Whale Songs Obey Basic Rules of Human Languages

Whales could one day be heard in court—and in their own words

What rhymes with “critically endangered”?

Ultimate Battle! Moray Eel vs. Pufferfish