TOW #17 - A Scientists’ March on Washington Is a Bad Idea

In A Scientists’ March on Washington Is a Bad Idea, Robert S. Young is able to expose the truths about current climate issues and the solution to solving these exact issues, but specifically not marching about it.  Robert S. Young is a professor of coastal geology and the director of the study of developed shorelines at Western Carolina University.  Robert S. Young has received a BS degree in Geology from the College of William & Mary, an MS degree in Quaternary Studies from the University of Maine, and a PhD in Geology from Duke University. He is quite an experienced and studious fellow, yet a strong advocate for solving issues related to climate change, specifically raising sea levels.  His article is in response to the strong want for a march for science on Washington, just as there were marches across the country after inauguration day. Geared toward an audience of people supporting the cause of ending climate change, he indeed explains why there should not be a march for science on Washington because it would simply politicize science and “turn scientists into another group caught up in the culture wars and further drive the wedge between scientists and a certain segment of the American electorate.”  In order to show his central argument, Young utilizes the establishment of credibility and analogies.  In the beginning Young says, “I am a coastal geologist. I direct a center where our mission is to conduct scientific research and then communicate that science to elected officials, regulators, even private entities and the public.” By stating his own occupation it helps add to his credibility which in effect appeals to ethos.  This makes his argument more clear, logical, and simply correct. Young also ends the article with an analogy stating, “If tens of thousands of us show up, it will simply increase the size of the echo chamber.” An echo chamber is defined as an enclosed space for producing reverberation of sound.  By comparing this to performing a march for science, it shows that it will only make opinions loud and more prominent, but no solutions will be found by doing so.  He is able to show that this march will only make the voices loud, but not show and educate the true science behind these types of issues to people that do not understand them in order to make change.  In my opinion, I fully agree with Robert S. Young in the sense that a march for science would not make sense and not solve any issues.  The people that are skeptical about climate change need to understand that there is nothing to be skeptical about it and that is is pure science.     

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/opinion/a-scientists-march-on-washington-is-a-bad-idea.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss