Speaking of science...
A man-made climate change sceptic has put his hand up for Science Minister because PM Abbott's first choice looks like she's going to lose her seat to an independent.
"In the climate area there is appeal to authority and appeal to consensus, neither of which is scientific at all," Dr Jensen told Fairfax Media on Thursday. "Scientific reality doesn't give a damn who said it and it doesn't give a damn how many say it."
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/climate-sceptic-mp-dennis-jensen-wants-to-be-science-minister-20130912-2tltt.html#ixzz2eeVsfhjY
I used to live in his electorate. Yes, the man is a complete and utter berk. Furthermore, he's a fucking materials scientist. I'm a materials scientist too, and I can tell you that our work does not give us any particular insights into climate change... certainly not enough
to overthrow experts in the field.
From a purely disciplinary thing, I might assume that because of his background in Mat. Sci. which, particularly when he would have been doing it, relies heavily on actual, active experiments, where you are determing all variables etc. (something that can't really be done in climate science; passive experiments, certainly, but you won't ever be able to drop a hurricane in the Mediterranean just to see what it does) he has some distrust over the results. Fine. However, if you're gonna put your hand up for a senior science position, at least educate yourself on the bloody science before you open your fat mouth.
How can he not be aware of the sheer depth of highly sophisticated modelling, which has provided extremely accurate predictions, in the field? Hell, the basic accounting that even with conservative estimates show that humanity has significantly changed the planet's atmosphere? Not to mention as a scientist, he has to know that while people might fudge a graph slightly or publish only their prettiest pics, you're not going to be able to publish something that is outright wrong in a popular field? The number of people that will jump down your throat at anything they can is ridiculous.
No, I honestly doubt he would express the same opinion if he didn't have a political stake in it.
Also,
fuck anyone that lends Monckton more credence than that of a babbling lunatic, let alone experts in their field. The man is a stain on humanity's underpants.
/rant.