Scientists worthy of respect recognize that it’s possible for two highly-qualified, honourable people to look at the same data and come to different conclusions. 

I recently referenced a blog post by Roy Spencer – a meteorologist whose impressive bio may be seen here. A few lines of that post deserve to be flashed on billboards around the globe.

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The scientists most worthy of our respect are those who admit that science can’t answer every question. Even more importantly, they acknowledge that it’s possible for two highly-qualified, honourable individuals to look at the same data and come to different conclusions.

If we all remembered this, perhaps we wouldn’t be so quick to accuse each other of promoting junk science, of being anti-science, of hating science, and so forth.

We all want things to be cut-and-dried. We all feel emotionally certain those with whom we disagree are morons. But grown-ups know real life isn’t like that.

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read Roy Spencer’s full blog post here.

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CUT & PASTE QUOTE:

“I went into science with the misguided belief that science provides answers. Too often, it doesn’t. Some physical problems are simply too difficult. Two scientists can examine the same data and come to exactly opposite conclusions about causation.” Roy Spencer, 2014 as the Mildest Year: Why You are Being Misled on Global Temperatures

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