science Archive

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  Policy-making needs science - by frog

  
  
  
  A recent editorial in Science points out the importance of using evidence based policy. The Editor-in-Chief, Bruce Alberts writes: “It is … disturbing that so many lawmakers elected to the new U.S. Congress reject the overwhelming scientific consensus with respect to human-induced climate change. The question now facing the United States is not only how [...] read more
  January 21, 2011 10:33 am - 56 Comments
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  John Delaney: Wiring an interactive ocean - by frog

  
  
  
  Oceanographer John Delaney talks about how we are already beginning to wire up the ocean and how important this is for the survival of our species. Have a look and get inspired. read more
  August 3, 2010 11:19 am - 4 Comments
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  A whiff of robbing Peter to pay Paul - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The government’s pre-budget announcement about funding for science is a classic curate’s egg – good in parts, but potentially concealing something a bit malodorous. read more
  May 12, 2010 5:35 pm - 3 Comments
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  CRI Taskforce is refreshing - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The report of the CRI Taskforce released yesterday contains some refreshingly clear thinking about the best way to support science and research in New Zealand. read more
  March 5, 2010 9:01 am - 8 Comments
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  New science blog – check it out - by frog

  
  
  
  Today the SMC has launched a new blog: what they call a “network of science blogs”…a great addition to the blogosphere. read more
  September 30, 2009 10:13 am - 2 Comments
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  Biological Particles in High-Altitude Clouds - by frog

  
  
  
  It is utter geek-speak, but scientists have finally been able to directly observe biological particles in high-altitude clouds. Why should we care about this? Because: “If we understand the sources of the particles that nucleate clouds, and their relative abundance, we can determine their impact on climate,” said Pratt, lead author of the paper. The [...] read more
  May 18, 2009 10:21 am - 3 Comments
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  Jeanette questions Salinger sacking - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  By hiding behind the public service rules the minister of Research, Science and Technology has shot himself in the foot. What seemed like the safest path to a new minister may in the end prove the most embarrassing. Tuesday, with my question in the House, I tried to give Wayne Mapp an opportunity to express [...] read more
  April 30, 2009 10:55 am - 33 Comments
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  Rapping the Hadron Collider - by frog

  
  
  
  How to communicate science to yoofs? Or maybe how not to! read more
  April 26, 2009 2:46 pm - 4 Comments
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  John Key’s Uncertainty Principle - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Does John Key understand the uncertainty his wild statements have created for business? Is there any thinking or policy intent behind the statement that the ETS will be “put on hold” or was it just post-election rhetoric? The key thing is that the businesses most affected don’t know. About a week after the election, reassured [...] read more
  December 15, 2008 11:34 am - 23 Comments
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  Leadership - by frog

  
  
  
  Obama telling it like it is and as we have always said it is: My presidency will mark a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process. That will start with a federal cap-and-trade system. We’ll establish strong annual targets that [...] read more
  November 25, 2008 4:30 pm - 39 Comments
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  Economics and climate science are not Hide’s strong suits - by frog

  
  
  
  Brian Rudman today pins down the real danger the Rodney Hide’s climate denialism represents to New Zealand: The British Government Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, published in March, was blunt. “The scientific evidence is now overwhelming; climate change is a serious global threat, and it demands an urgent global response. Hundreds of [...] read more
  November 19, 2008 12:09 pm - 14 Comments
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  The New Copernicans - by frog

  
  
  
  It wasn’t that long ago in historical terms that Nicolaus Copernicus bucked the established western wisdom and asserted that the earth may in fact orbit the sun. He rightfully feared the retribution of the authorities and was careful to pay them tribute when he finally did publish shortly before his death. Although the evidence has [...] read more
  November 19, 2008 11:43 am - 23 Comments
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  Rats prefer organic food - by frog

  
  
  
  Yum, organic baking! According to Mother Earth News, via Ecoscraps: 40 lab rats were offered a choice between organic and conventional biscuits by Swiss and Austrian scientists.  The rats preferred the organic biscuits, which makes you wonder if rats are smarter than humans. Those are some pretty lucky lab rats getting the biscuit tasting job [...] read more
  September 16, 2008 1:27 pm - 4 Comments
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  A good debate on genetic engineering - by frog

  
  
  
  George Darroch has started a good, and considered debate among frogblog commenters on the scientific risks of genetic engineering: There have been plenty of reasons to oppose genetic engineering that I can agree with; control of the food chain by large scale agribusiness, overstated benefits, chemical use, commercialisation of life, monocropping, loss of seed stock [...] read more
  September 9, 2008 2:34 pm - 14 Comments
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  From different corners of the internet - by frog

  
  
  
  Food Democracy covers a new European study, published by the Food Commission, claims that the heavy use of antibiotics in livestock farming is the cause of many superbugs, including salmonella, campylobacter and E.coli. worldchanging.com shows how two views of the same data on climate change can lead to very different solutions. In one set of [...] read more
  August 14, 2008 8:16 am - No Comments
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  It’s irrational but I can’t help myself - by frog

  
  
  
  I just came across this post on Scienceblogs: The underlying assumption, of course, is that issues matter, that voters are fundamentally rational agents who vote for candidates based on a coherent set of principles. In other words, they assume that my political preferences reflect some mixture of ideology and selfish calculation. I’ll vote for the [...] read more
  July 24, 2008 10:01 am - 22 Comments
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  Science Media Centre launches in NZ - by frog

  
  
  
  The Science Media Centre (SMC) launches today, mirroring similar initiatives overseas. The SMC is an independent source of expert comment and information for journalists covering science and technology in New Zealand. Here we feature the opinions of leading scientists on breaking news stories and provide background reports and tools for both journalists and scientists. Our [...] read more
  July 1, 2008 11:45 am - 4 Comments
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  Pachauri: ‘please read the science’ - by frog

  
  
  
  World Environment Day has bought the head of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Rajendra Pachauri, to New Zealand.  Pachauri is moving the IPCC beyond stating the science in ways that have allowed climate change deniers to obfuscate and confuse the message.  He is now using much plainer language.  Famously, this now widely [...] read more
  June 5, 2008 8:34 am - 13 Comments
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  Five Prominent New Zealand Scientists Say Global Warming Is Real - by frog

  
  
  
  Such is the title of a NIWA press release just out. (not online yet) They are reacting publicly to their inclusion in the Heartland Institute’s list of 500 scientists with doubts about climate change and global warming. The Heartland Institute has named five New Zealanders in a list of 500 scientists whose published research is [...] read more
  May 7, 2008 4:14 pm - 66 Comments
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  500 Scientists with Documented Doubts – about the Heartland Institute? - by frog

  
  
  
  DeSmogBlog has published a rapidly growing list of outraged climate scientists – all of whom were listed on the Heartland Institute‘s “500 Scientists with Documented Doubts” statement after the climate change deniers conference in New York last March. Here are just three of the quotes on offer: I am horrified to find my name on [...] read more
  May 2, 2008 9:00 am - 9 Comments