Marshall Shepherd talks climate

UGA Research magazine and now the UGA homepage feature this terrific article on atmospheric sciences hero, Marshall Shepherd:

The bogeymen he faces aren't humanoid, however, but the misinformation he calls "zombie theories" — the litany of benighted arguments that human activities are not, after all, the root cause of global climate change. Time and time again, atmospheric scientists have countered these assertions — such as "The climate change we are now witnessing is natural," "It's not humans, it's the sun," and "The alarmist scientists just want grant money" — but in full zombie tradition, the theories simply will not die, at least not yet. Shepherd's firm belief is that truth ultimately will prevail, so he fights the zombie theories, using the best weapons at his disposal: scientific evidence and public outreach.

Shepherd had watched for years as the public debate surrounding climate change devolved into what he saw as bloody stalemates between two talking heads, where thoughtful analysis and scientific evidence took a back seat to conjecture and wild speculation.

"Why is there so much popular debate when the vast majority of climate scientists and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide agree that warming trends of the past century are likely, in part, due to human activities?" he asked.

While certainly a number of factors were contributing to misguided public opinion, Shepherd decided that a big part of the problem was communication — not enough of it, that is, by bona fide climate scientists.

This could be, not climate change but the issue of deliberate misinformation, one of the biggest societal issues we face. And scholars like Shepherd speaking up - loudly, cogently, authoritatively - are among its most effective remedies. Our thanks to Dr. Shepherd for his tireless efforts in helping us make sense of what is happening to the planet, and for not shying away from the limelight at a time when his knowledge and expertise are needed most.