good evening well I recently started a blog I wanted to talk about my work as a
blog I wanted to talk about my work as a
blog I wanted to talk about my work as a PhD student in atmospheric science but
PhD student in atmospheric science but
PhD student in atmospheric science but the very first blog I posted was
the very first blog I posted was
the very first blog I posted was actually called climate stakes why
actually called climate stakes why
actually called climate stakes why scientists should be more like local
scientists should be more like local
scientists should be more like local butchers and why would I want to be like
butchers and why would I want to be like
butchers and why would I want to be like a local butcher especially as I am
a local butcher especially as I am
a local butcher especially as I am studying climate and you know about the
studying climate and you know about the
studying climate and you know about the greenhouse gases and I’m a vegetarian
greenhouse gases and I’m a vegetarian
greenhouse gases and I’m a vegetarian well I remember when I was small in
well I remember when I was small in
well I remember when I was small in Mexico and I would go with my mom to a
Mexico and I would go with my mom to a
Mexico and I would go with my mom to a local market and there to her local
local market and there to her local
local market and there to her local butcher usually my mom would be there to
butcher usually my mom would be there to
butcher usually my mom would be there to buy liver and chicken hearts and all
buy liver and chicken hearts and all
buy liver and chicken hearts and all this weird organs to feed me she kept
this weird organs to feed me she kept
this weird organs to feed me she kept saying it was against anemia but the
saying it was against anemia but the
saying it was against anemia but the butcher was there to help us to give us
butcher was there to help us to give us
butcher was there to help us to give us advice recommendations you know a recipe
advice recommendations you know a recipe
advice recommendations you know a recipe or two he knew his meat and we trusted
or two he knew his meat and we trusted
or two he knew his meat and we trusted him but not only because he’s an expert
him but not only because he’s an expert
him but not only because he’s an expert at what he does but because we built a
at what he does but because we built a
at what he does but because we built a relationship with him and this is the
relationship with him and this is the
relationship with him and this is the role that I see the modern scientists to
role that I see the modern scientists to
role that I see the modern scientists to have why well if you want quality food
have why well if you want quality food
have why well if you want quality food you go to your local market but what
you go to your local market but what
you go to your local market but what about the information that you’re
about the information that you’re
about the information that you’re consuming what is the quality and what
consuming what is the quality and what
consuming what is the quality and what is the source of that information well
is the source of that information well
is the source of that information well here’s where scientists can come in and
here’s where scientists can come in and
here’s where scientists can come in and we are lucky in that society already
we are lucky in that society already
we are lucky in that society already places a high level of trust on the
places a high level of trust on the
places a high level of trust on the scientific profession so we just have to
scientific profession so we just have to
scientific profession so we just have to work a little bit on that bilateral
work a little bit on that bilateral
work a little bit on that bilateral relationship so why should we bother why
relationship so why should we bother why
relationship so why should we bother why is this important well I’m sure most of
is this important well I’m sure most of
is this important well I’m sure most of you have come across a headline like
you have come across a headline like
you have come across a headline like this at some point
this at some point
this at some point we’re inundated with sensationalized
we’re inundated with sensationalized
we’re inundated with sensationalized headlines where the aim is to sell news
headlines where the aim is to sell news
headlines where the aim is to sell news rather than simply inform us so if
rather than simply inform us so if
rather than simply inform us so if science also is it’s quite often the
science also is it’s quite often the
science also is it’s quite often the topic of the news but it is often taken
topic of the news but it is often taken
topic of the news but it is often taken out of context or it is misused or at
out of context or it is misused or at
out of context or it is misused or at best
best
best the story’s too simplified so as
the story’s too simplified so as
the story’s too simplified so as consumers of that information you have
consumers of that information you have
consumers of that information you have to be critical but you also have to have
to be critical but you also have to have
to be critical but you also have to have a reliable source to that information so
a reliable source to that information so
a reliable source to that information so for that scientist we have to step out
for that scientist we have to step out
for that scientist we have to step out and we have to step it up so let’s take
and we have to step it up so let’s take
and we have to step it up so let’s take some very frequent key words that you
some very frequent key words that you
some very frequent key words that you hear when you talk about the climate
hear when you talk about the climate
hear when you talk about the climate climate news Greenland polar bears sea
climate news Greenland polar bears sea
climate news Greenland polar bears sea level rise and let’s just go a little
level rise and let’s just go a little
level rise and let’s just go a little bit beyond that just a little bit look
bit beyond that just a little bit look
bit beyond that just a little bit look behind those words I was very lucky that
behind those words I was very lucky that
behind those words I was very lucky that I could go to Greenland last summer it
I could go to Greenland last summer it
I could go to Greenland last summer it was part of a course to see how climate
was part of a course to see how climate
was part of a course to see how climate change is affecting Arctic societies and
change is affecting Arctic societies and
change is affecting Arctic societies and when we landed there we saw this
when we landed there we saw this
when we landed there we saw this beautiful rocky landscape it’s something
beautiful rocky landscape it’s something
beautiful rocky landscape it’s something I’ve never seen before there are no
I’ve never seen before there are no
I’ve never seen before there are no trees in Greenland there are no roads
trees in Greenland there are no roads
trees in Greenland there are no roads connecting one town from another so if
connecting one town from another so if
connecting one town from another so if you want to travel you have to go by air
you want to travel you have to go by air
you want to travel you have to go by air by water or by ice the biggest lesson I
by water or by ice the biggest lesson I
by water or by ice the biggest lesson I got from that course was actually what I
got from that course was actually what I
got from that course was actually what I learned after talking to the local
learned after talking to the local
learned after talking to the local Greenlanders and after I got just a
Greenlanders and after I got just a
Greenlanders and after I got just a little bit of a glimpse to see Greenland
little bit of a glimpse to see Greenland
little bit of a glimpse to see Greenland from their perspective so we had coffee
from their perspective so we had coffee
from their perspective so we had coffee with labor union representative Julie
with labor union representative Julie
with labor union representative Julie and she said it beautifully she said to
and she said it beautifully she said to
and she said it beautifully she said to us Greenlanders ice it’s like a huge
us Greenlanders ice it’s like a huge
us Greenlanders ice it’s like a huge highway but what happens when that
highway but what happens when that
highway but what happens when that highway is melting we’ll just like for
highway is melting we’ll just like for
highway is melting we’ll just like for polar bears the Greenlandic Inuit which
polar bears the Greenlandic Inuit which
polar bears the Greenlandic Inuit which make up at least 80% of the population
make up at least 80% of the population
make up at least 80% of the population depend on that ice to move around for
depend on that ice to move around for
depend on that ice to move around for hunting so no ice means that they can’t
hunting so no ice means that they can’t
hunting so no ice means that they can’t have access to territories or they can’t
have access to territories or they can’t
have access to territories or they can’t follow their their their animals their
follow their their their animals their
follow their their their animals their hunting the same for fishing thinner ice
hunting the same for fishing thinner ice
hunting the same for fishing thinner ice means they can go out and fish it’s
means they can go out and fish it’s
means they can go out and fish it’s endangering their livelihood their
endangering their livelihood their
endangering their livelihood their traditions and their cultural identity
traditions and their cultural identity
traditions and their cultural identity but on the other hand greenland is also
but on the other hand greenland is also
but on the other hand greenland is also seeing new opportunities surfacing
seeing new opportunities surfacing
seeing new opportunities surfacing because of this change in environment so
because of this change in environment so
because of this change in environment so they have tourism for example it’s
they have tourism for example it’s
they have tourism for example it’s blossoming we saw a couple of touristic
blossoming we saw a couple of touristic
blossoming we saw a couple of touristic ships coming in with all the cameras
ships coming in with all the cameras
ships coming in with all the cameras mining and agriculture is surfacing so
mining and agriculture is surfacing so
mining and agriculture is surfacing so it’s an opportunity for Greenland to
it’s an opportunity for Greenland to
it’s an opportunity for Greenland to become more prosperous and more
become more prosperous and more
become more prosperous and more independent but at the same time this
independent but at the same time this
independent but at the same time this change in lifestyle is also bringing a
change in lifestyle is also bringing a
change in lifestyle is also bringing a really high toll on the local people so
really high toll on the local people so
really high toll on the local people so you’re taking you’re taking them from
you’re taking you’re taking them from
you’re taking you’re taking them from being in small towns and putting them in
being in small towns and putting them in
being in small towns and putting them in this urbanized residential buildings
this urbanized residential buildings
this urbanized residential buildings they’re going from fishing to being
they’re going from fishing to being
they’re going from fishing to being contained in this office jobs and that’s
contained in this office jobs and that’s
contained in this office jobs and that’s really difficult for them so Greenland
really difficult for them so Greenland
really difficult for them so Greenland has to juggle when it looks at its
has to juggle when it looks at its
has to juggle when it looks at its opportunities but also the challenges
opportunities but also the challenges
opportunities but also the challenges that it’s facing and of course together
that it’s facing and of course together
that it’s facing and of course together we’ll the you know historical and
we’ll the you know historical and
we’ll the you know historical and political aspects that come with it
political aspects that come with it
political aspects that come with it and when we talk about sea level rise
and when we talk about sea level rise
and when we talk about sea level rise actually Greenland may not have that
actually Greenland may not have that
actually Greenland may not have that immediate problem the seas of melting
immediate problem the seas of melting
immediate problem the seas of melting water the warming water will be
water the warming water will be
water the warming water will be displaced and it will flood and affect
displaced and it will flood and affect
displaced and it will flood and affect millions of people in coastal areas
millions of people in coastal areas
millions of people in coastal areas elsewhere so when we hear about
elsewhere so when we hear about
elsewhere so when we hear about Greenland and polar bears in the
Greenland and polar bears in the
Greenland and polar bears in the headlines there’s a lot more going on
headlines there’s a lot more going on
headlines there’s a lot more going on behind those words it’s it’s like a huge
behind those words it’s it’s like a huge
behind those words it’s it’s like a huge complex network of both local stories
complex network of both local stories
complex network of both local stories and a bigger picture because it’s not
and a bigger picture because it’s not
and a bigger picture because it’s not just limited to climate talk of course
just limited to climate talk of course
just limited to climate talk of course I’ve been talking about climate because
I’ve been talking about climate because
I’ve been talking about climate because this is related to what I work on but we
this is related to what I work on but we
this is related to what I work on but we can talk about something else
can talk about something else
can talk about something else vaccines are they going to make your
vaccines are they going to make your
vaccines are they going to make your child sick and how about GMOs what is
child sick and how about GMOs what is
child sick and how about GMOs what is genetically modified even mean
genetically modified even mean
genetically modified even mean where is biotechnology or AI taking us
where is biotechnology or AI taking us
where is biotechnology or AI taking us the public deserves to have a direct
the public deserves to have a direct
the public deserves to have a direct source to that information and that
source to that information and that
source to that information and that source should be us not only because as
source should be us not only because as
source should be us not only because as taxpayers they’re funding our research
taxpayers they’re funding our research
taxpayers they’re funding our research but because keeping our science a
but because keeping our science a
but because keeping our science a political and objective does not mean
political and objective does not mean
political and objective does not mean that we’re not also citizens of that
that we’re not also citizens of that
that we’re not also citizens of that society and university walls do not make
society and university walls do not make
society and university walls do not make us immune to whatever decisions or
us immune to whatever decisions or
us immune to whatever decisions or actions our society takes now some of my
actions our society takes now some of my
actions our society takes now some of my colleagues well I’ve heard from other
colleagues well I’ve heard from other
colleagues well I’ve heard from other scientists fear or voice concerns that
scientists fear or voice concerns that
scientists fear or voice concerns that the people just don’t care about what we
the people just don’t care about what we
the people just don’t care about what we do with scientists but I find it boring
do with scientists but I find it boring
do with scientists but I find it boring or that they just can’t connect with us
or that they just can’t connect with us
or that they just can’t connect with us or that we should just stick to doing
or that we should just stick to doing
or that we should just stick to doing science and that’s all but people do
science and that’s all but people do
science and that’s all but people do care otherwise they wouldn’t be marching
care otherwise they wouldn’t be marching
care otherwise they wouldn’t be marching around the world for science clearly
around the world for science clearly
around the world for science clearly they know it has an impact in their
they know it has an impact in their
they know it has an impact in their lives and it is our job to communicate
lives and it is our job to communicate
lives and it is our job to communicate for three reasons the first because no
for three reasons the first because no
for three reasons the first because no one knows our research better than we do
one knows our research better than we do
one knows our research better than we do talking about our work is good for our
talking about our work is good for our
talking about our work is good for our fields for our careers and it’s a
fields for our careers and it’s a
fields for our careers and it’s a service to that society it reminds us of
service to that society it reminds us of
service to that society it reminds us of why we’re doing science in the first
why we’re doing science in the first
why we’re doing science in the first place
place
place we want to understand the world around
we want to understand the world around
we want to understand the world around us
us
us we want to take human knowledge a little
we want to take human knowledge a little
we want to take human knowledge a little bit further so why wouldn’t we want to
bit further so why wouldn’t we want to
bit further so why wouldn’t we want to share that with the rest of the people
share that with the rest of the people
share that with the rest of the people of course it also means that we have to
of course it also means that we have to
of course it also means that we have to work on being better communicators but
work on being better communicators but
work on being better communicators but science is a team effort and a sort of
science is a team effort and a sort of
science is a team effort and a sort of team quality control so we have to be
team quality control so we have to be
team quality control so we have to be good at talking to each other anyway now
good at talking to each other anyway now
good at talking to each other anyway now at the beginning of my PhD I was very
at the beginning of my PhD I was very
at the beginning of my PhD I was very excited and I went to this conference
excited and I went to this conference
excited and I went to this conference and I saw a senior scientist whom I
and I saw a senior scientist whom I
and I saw a senior scientist whom I admire very much so I went up to him and
admire very much so I went up to him and
admire very much so I went up to him and I asked him what do you think is our
I asked him what do you think is our
I asked him what do you think is our responsibility a scientist in this whole
responsibility a scientist in this whole
responsibility a scientist in this whole climate talk and he said we should be
climate talk and he said we should be
climate talk and he said we should be doing the best possible science we can
doing the best possible science we can
doing the best possible science we can so we can pass that on to policy makers
so we can pass that on to policy makers
so we can pass that on to policy makers and then they’ll take it on from there
and then they’ll take it on from there
and then they’ll take it on from there and that’s that’s where our job ends but
and that’s that’s where our job ends but
and that’s that’s where our job ends but I’ve always been a bit Restless with
I’ve always been a bit Restless with
I’ve always been a bit Restless with that answer because what happens when
that answer because what happens when
that answer because what happens when those policy makers or a certain
those policy makers or a certain
those policy makers or a certain government becomes disinterested
government becomes disinterested
government becomes disinterested or even worse finds that goes against
or even worse finds that goes against
or even worse finds that goes against their interest to follow environmental
their interest to follow environmental
their interest to follow environmental policies who do we assign to stern to
policies who do we assign to stern to
policies who do we assign to stern to them do we only then turn to society and
them do we only then turn to society and
them do we only then turn to society and say guys yeah we should talk society
say guys yeah we should talk society
say guys yeah we should talk society should be our main stakeholder and for
should be our main stakeholder and for
should be our main stakeholder and for that reason we need the second point
that reason we need the second point
that reason we need the second point science literacy because science is
science literacy because science is
science literacy because science is everywhere it’s in how we produce our
everywhere it’s in how we produce our
everywhere it’s in how we produce our food it’s in making healthy longer
food it’s in making healthy longer
food it’s in making healthy longer living humans it’s taking us to space
living humans it’s taking us to space
living humans it’s taking us to space but only a very few percentage of us can
but only a very few percentage of us can
but only a very few percentage of us can actually talk and read science and even
actually talk and read science and even
actually talk and read science and even that is clouded with scientific jargon
that is clouded with scientific jargon
that is clouded with scientific jargon or it’s locked behind paywalls of
or it’s locked behind paywalls of
or it’s locked behind paywalls of scientific journals in a democracy we
scientific journals in a democracy we
scientific journals in a democracy we all have the right to choose but how can
all have the right to choose but how can
all have the right to choose but how can we choose or propose solutions or
we choose or propose solutions or
we choose or propose solutions or innovate we’re not completely aware of
innovate we’re not completely aware of
innovate we’re not completely aware of the state of our society its needs or
the state of our society its needs or
the state of our society its needs or where it’s going Science and Technology
where it’s going Science and Technology
where it’s going Science and Technology are everywhere so we have to we have to
are everywhere so we have to we have to
are everywhere so we have to we have to help give the tools to our society for
help give the tools to our society for
help give the tools to our society for them to also be participants because if
them to also be participants because if
them to also be participants because if they choose to be only consumers and not
they choose to be only consumers and not
they choose to be only consumers and not active participants of it it should be a
active participants of it it should be a
active participants of it it should be a choice not an imposed disadvantage the
choice not an imposed disadvantage the
choice not an imposed disadvantage the third point critical thinking a
third point critical thinking a
third point critical thinking a scientist were trained to make
scientist were trained to make
scientist were trained to make observations to test our hypotheses and
observations to test our hypotheses and
observations to test our hypotheses and to adjust our knowledge based on that
to adjust our knowledge based on that
to adjust our knowledge based on that result we are pushed to ask questions
result we are pushed to ask questions
result we are pushed to ask questions and be skeptical but also to receive
and be skeptical but also to receive
and be skeptical but also to receive criticism and we’re willing and open to
criticism and we’re willing and open to
criticism and we’re willing and open to modify what we presently know that’s the
modify what we presently know that’s the
modify what we presently know that’s the way that science can move forward so
way that science can move forward so
way that science can move forward so what if we
what if we
what if we as a society could listen to politicians
as a society could listen to politicians
as a society could listen to politicians or read headlines in the same way
society our large is the ultimate
society our large is the ultimate decision-maker and the scientist we can
decision-maker and the scientist we can
decision-maker and the scientist we can contribute by providing the tools and
contribute by providing the tools and
contribute by providing the tools and the information they need to make the
the information they need to make the
the information they need to make the best decisions which is why I am
best decisions which is why I am
best decisions which is why I am standing here and I’m calling on my
standing here and I’m calling on my
standing here and I’m calling on my fellow scientist to rethink our role in
fellow scientist to rethink our role in
fellow scientist to rethink our role in society we can be promoters of
society we can be promoters of
society we can be promoters of discussion we do this every day already
discussion we do this every day already
discussion we do this every day already we do this over lunch so let’s take
we do this over lunch so let’s take
we do this over lunch so let’s take those discussions outside the academic
those discussions outside the academic
those discussions outside the academic setting and into the rest of society
setting and into the rest of society
setting and into the rest of society science communication should be an
science communication should be an
science communication should be an integral part of our curriculum it
integral part of our curriculum it
integral part of our curriculum it should be part of a researchers training
should be part of a researchers training
should be part of a researchers training Carl Sagan said not explaining science
Carl Sagan said not explaining science
Carl Sagan said not explaining science seems to me perverse when you’re in love
seems to me perverse when you’re in love
seems to me perverse when you’re in love you want to tell the world and we love
you want to tell the world and we love
you want to tell the world and we love our jobs I haven’t met a scientist who
our jobs I haven’t met a scientist who
our jobs I haven’t met a scientist who just accidentally became a scientist we
just accidentally became a scientist we
just accidentally became a scientist we love what we do so let’s let it out you
love what we do so let’s let it out you
love what we do so let’s let it out you can use your hobbies to make your
can use your hobbies to make your
can use your hobbies to make your research more accessible if you don’t
research more accessible if you don’t
research more accessible if you don’t want to right type you know try
want to right type you know try
want to right type you know try photography take us into that scientific
photography take us into that scientific
photography take us into that scientific journey through photographs tweet saying
journey through photographs tweet saying
journey through photographs tweet saying I dance the topic of my PhD in a video
I dance the topic of my PhD in a video
I dance the topic of my PhD in a video and actually I learned a lot more about
and actually I learned a lot more about
and actually I learned a lot more about the basics of my topic only after a bit
the basics of my topic only after a bit
the basics of my topic only after a bit done so it really helps to see it from
done so it really helps to see it from
done so it really helps to see it from different angles engage with your
different angles engage with your
different angles engage with your community with citizen science meet up
community with citizen science meet up
community with citizen science meet up with artists and if the general public
with artists and if the general public
with artists and if the general public is just not you you don’t don’t be big
is just not you you don’t don’t be big
is just not you you don’t don’t be big audiences that’s okay too then take it
audiences that’s okay too then take it
audiences that’s okay too then take it to your family be that cool aunt or
to your family be that cool aunt or
to your family be that cool aunt or uncle that can answer the kids questions
uncle that can answer the kids questions
uncle that can answer the kids questions of why is the sky blue
we can promote roundtable discussions
we can promote roundtable discussions where we have scientists natural and
where we have scientists natural and
where we have scientists natural and social we have students and teachers and
social we have students and teachers and
social we have students and teachers and fishermen all gathered in the same table
fishermen all gathered in the same table
fishermen all gathered in the same table and
and
and talking and that way we can promote a
talking and that way we can promote a
talking and that way we can promote a society that will listen that will
society that will listen that will
society that will listen that will question and that will dialogue and that
question and that will dialogue and that
question and that will dialogue and that way collectively we can steer towards a
way collectively we can steer towards a
way collectively we can steer towards a positive future with a society that is
positive future with a society that is
positive future with a society that is both empowered and it’s inclusive thank
both empowered and it’s inclusive thank
both empowered and it’s inclusive thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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