Find out how organisations like tobacco and fossil fuel companies sell doubt about science, in order to undermine public trust.
You can watch Naomi’s recent talk about the origin of the plate tectonics theory here: • Rethinking the origin of plate tectonics -… and if you sign up as one of our Science Supporters, see the full Q&A here: • Q&A: Rethinking the origin of plate tecton…
Buy Naomi’s book ‘Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming’ here: https://geni.us/orTZL9D
00:00 Introduction.
0:41 Why do bad actors work to create mistrust in science?
2:26 How do bad actors create mistrust in science?
3:24 How does the fossil fuel industry create mistrust?
5:04 How can we rebuild trust in science and government?
7:50 Does it matter who funds science?
11:52 What role does government regulation play in science?
14:01 How does the concept of freedom affect the climate debate?
Naomi Oreskes is Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. She has worked on studies of geophysics, climate change and the history of science. She sits on the board of US based not-for-profit organisations the National Center for Science Education and Climate Science Legal Defense Fund. She is a distinguished speaker and has published 10 books, including Science on a Mission and The Big Myth.
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There are many “products” that “scientists” have created by developing various “sciences” that cause various types and levels of “bad” effects on humans, animals and on the environment. The list includes tobacco products that contain additives to “hook” users and crude oil that is a natural byproduct of earth process, that is processed to create fuels that are burned which creates toxic pollutants. But this doesn’t scratch the surface when it comes to the many products and byproducts, visible and invisible, that have been created by “scientists” that are “bad” for human beings, as well as all other biological lifeforms, as well as the environment. Yet we’re told to trust the “science” that the “scientists” have created? Never.