STS 179 US Science Policy

Current Issues in Science and Technology Policy

Global Warming• National science policy in global context• Interdisciplinary• Social construction of scientific knowledge: IPCC

report on global warming represented “formally agreed statement of the IPCC concerning key findings and uncertainties” in regard to various aspects of the problem.

• Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: both revolution and normal science

• Why social construction? – Interdisciplinary nature– Uncertainties– Cross-national policy implications

Global Warming (cont.)

• Does the IPCC represent a precedent set by the 1958 Geneva Conference of Experts on the Cessation of Nuclear Testing?

• Can technical and policy issues be separated?

Causes and Effects of Warming

• Since 1750:

• Greenhouse Gases +2.3 w/m2

• Aerosols: -0.5 w/m2 direct and -0.7 w/m2 indirect

• Solar: 0.12 w/m2

• Importance of quantitative reasoning

What’s New to Me

• Benefits of Fighting Global Warming– Reduced air pollution– Sustainable energy supplies– International collaboration– Reduced workload for women and children– Great technological innovations that might be

produced in order to meet the challenge

New: Public policy implications

– Not just fighting against warming trend– But also adaptation measures– Not just reducing GHGs– But also reform in land use and water use– Not just technological solutions– But economic measures

What Does This Mean to Us

• Global climate change is a major public policy issue that will affect every aspect of society

• The consensus (as indicated by both presidential candidates’ stands and even the Bush administration’s) that we need to take actions on this matter means that the debate is moving into a new stage

• The fight against global warming is already shaping both the direction and practice of science, technology, and engineering and will be increasingly so.

Public Understanding

• Birch Aquarium exhibit on global warming at UCSD

• Flip-Flop Bars: Trade-offs of mitigation measures

• Scientific community’s need to do public outreach and education

• Thus training needed for science and engineering students so they can do so well in their careers

• Not just imparting knowledge, but to get public involved in science and policy