By Bread Alone? George Philander, Princeton University Abstract of a lecture given at the POGO meeting Cape Town South Africa, 22 January 2013

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1 By Bread Alone? George Philander, Princeton University Abstract of a lecture given at the POGO meeting Cape Town South Africa, 22 January 2013 Fiona Foster fulfills a childhood wish when, on a visit to the equator in Kenya, she excitedly watches how water draining from a bowl swirls clockwise in one hemisphere, counter-clockwise in the other. At the conclusion of this demonstration by an African professor Fiona turns to the camera and remarks to her BBC audience: I know this is a load of rubbish and can t possibly be true but what can I say, I m impressed. This remark may sound inconsistent, but is not because, to Fiona, the professor s purported demonstration of the Coriolis force is as entertaining as the performance of an expert magician. Her comment makes some scientists cringe -- science is not about magic -- but they should pay attention because she is offering sound advice concerning a serious problem, namely poor communications between scientists and laymen. Science is often taught as if it were a mere list of facts, or a series of logical deductions. A sense of wonder and awe is frequently lacking, even when the phenomenon being considered is truly amazing. Fiona s response to the demonstration is a reminder that man can not live by bread alone. For a different perspective on the demonstration at the equator we can turn to the World Wide Web where some scientists angrily denounce the professor as a cheat and charlatan who takes advantage of naïve tourists. The scientists insist that the demonstration be stopped. Their proposal raises a wrenching ethical dilemma (similar to the one the Pope faced in his confrontation with Galileo): which is more important, scientific truths, or the welfare of an African who earns a living from the demonstration? Global warming has similarities with the demonstration at the equator; it poses a scientific question with an objective answer, and a difficult ethical question whose answer depends on subjective factors such as our economic status. To deny that human activities are affecting the planet adversely is irresponsible, but to assure those living in abject poverty that the future will be worse, is cruel. Today discussions of global warming are highly polarized, in part because of our reluctance to deal with such ethical dilemmas. For guidance on how to cope with polarized situations we can turn to Nelson Mandela. His methods are on display in the film INVICTUS where he transforms the game of rugby, a symbol of oppression in South Africa, into a symbol of unity by democratizing the game. We similarly need to transform global warming from stories of imminent gloom and doom, into an opportunity for education (the key to the alleviation of poverty) by democratizing science, making it accessible to everyone, making it fun, using it to boost self-confidence and self-esteem. Our marvelous environment is the ideal vehicle for those purposes. These are the goals of 10-day Habitable Planet Workshops offered by ACCESS. This lecture describes how the success of the workshops depends on their theme: we are fortunate to be in a special place at a special time.

2 By Bread Alone? The Hoax at the Equator that Elucidates Why Global Warming is Polarizing George Philander Princeton University BBC Video of the Professor at the Equator Fiona Foster knows the demonstration is a load of rubbish And yet is impressed! Several scientists are outraged by the demonstration. They want it to STOP. Fiona: The demonstration is as much FUN as a performance by a magician Scientists: Science is not about Magic Fiona: Man Can Not Live by Bread Alone MESSAGE I Science, too often is taught as a list of facts or a series of deductions Without any sense of WONDER and AWE 1

3 The Demonstration at The Equator poses two questions 1. Is the Demonstration a Hoax? This is A SCIENTIFIC QUESTION with a definite, objective answer 2. Should the demonstrations continue, or stop? This is an ETHICAL QUESTION with several answers MESSAGE II SCIENCE Has an IMPRESSIVE SCOPE it can answer question 1 and Has SERIOUS LIMITATIONS it can not answer question 2 SCIENCE IS MUTE ON ETHICAL ISSUES The Demonstration at The Equator Pose Two Questions GLOBAL WARMING A A SCIENTIFIC QUESTION with one objective answer Is the Demonstration a Hoax? How will the rise in CO 2 affect CLIMATE? B. An ETHICAL QUESTION with many subjective answers How should we respond to the demonstration? How should we respond to global warming? WE HAVE to ASSURE the POOR that the FUTURE will be BETTER, not worse. PRESENT versus FUTURE PROBLEMS 2

4 GLOBAL WARMING is POLARIZING because of WRENCHING ETHICAL DILEMMAS FOR GUIDANCE CONSULT NELSON MANDELA He transformed A Symbol of OPPRESSION and POLARIZATION into A Symbol of UNITY and PRIDE See INVICTUS Mandela s Method: DEMOCRATIZATION of RUGBY Science too needs to be DEMOCRATIZED SOLUTION for The Demonstration at The Equator Polarization of Global Warming (?) Transform the Problem into AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY Introduction to Science: Ask questions about the things we love and cherish. CAPE TOWN QUESTION: ALL the World s plants are divided into SIX KINGDOMS The Southern tip of AFRICA has one all to itself!!! WHY? 3

5 The Atlantic waters are cold and foggy, and that side of the mountain, on the right, is arid. The Indian Ocean waters are much warmer and that side of the mountain is verdurous. 4

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7 OCEANIC CIRCULATION ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION Solid Earth Circulation Southern Africa is a vast Peninsula with remarkable biodiversity, surrounded by 3 remarkably different oceans 6

8 Students, after climbing to the top of the mountain, find that balloons have expanded, but temperatures are lower. Students descending Table Mountain 7

9 Science is FUN Science can Boost Self esteem Planet Earth is a special place at a special time Atmospheric CO 2 Polar Temperatures Demise of dinosaurs Langebaan Fossils Sediba Fossil Homo sapiens The present is a most unusual moment in the eventful history of planet Earth 8

10 DEMOCRATIZING SCIENCE can bring several benefits: 1. Provide an alternative to two unappealing choices Gloom and Doom INDIFFERENCE 2. Attract the youth to science An URGENT need in Africa 3. Build self confidence which apartheid tried to destroy PLANET EARTH, SPECIAL PLACE, SPECIAL TIME PROPOSAL: Provide Origin of Mankind with a Climate Context International, Interdiciplinary Study of the SEASONAL CYCLE, PRESENT and PAST Research and Education THE OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS IS NOT IGNORANCE BUT THE ILLUSION OF KNOWLEDGE 9

11 Fossils, near Langebaan, from 5 million years ago Langebaan 5 Million Years Ago had a very different climate, warm and wet 10

12 CAPE TOWN is SPECIAL FOR SEVERAL REASONS: A. Atmospheric Circulation Special Latitude 35 0 S Mediterranean Climate B. Oceanic Circulation Warm Agulhas Current & Cold Benguela Current C. Solid Earth Circulation Table Mountain created when the continents united D Bio Geo Chemical Re Cycling Proteas evolved Cape Town is but one demonstration of why Earth is a HABITABLE planet 11

13 Sea Surface Temperatures on 1 October 2001 Cape Town is the Most Remarkable Place on the Planet Evidence: The world s plants are divided ino 6 kingdoms Cape Town has one to itself! The Reason: A great diversity of climatic zones because of the mountains, warm and cold currents, the latitude 12