Color me cynical that any US administration could shake up foreign service personnel as Monsour recommends, but his assessments are spot on. Thanks for publishing this.
The trouble with a degree in climate science instead of a degree in a wider subject is that a climate science faculty grouping is likely to be dominated by people who believe the prevailing orthodoxy that increases in carbon dioxide are the only significant cause of climate change.
As it turns out, there is increasing evidence that other factors such as decreases in sulfur dioxide pollution are also very important. In some areas where much high sulfur fuel was burned until its use was discontinued, like Quebec, the reduction in sulfur dioxide may be the major cause of warming.
The problem with hyper-specialized training such as in climate science is that the mindset tends to focus on existing dogma and suppress divergent ideas. This is corrosive to good science, and creates blindness to alternate approaches to problem solving.
For a wider discussion of this concept, see the excellent book "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein. Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the US Army until 2023, often recommended this book to officers.
Color me cynical that any US administration could shake up foreign service personnel as Monsour recommends, but his assessments are spot on. Thanks for publishing this.
I think we need some people with advanced degrees in climate studies.
I agree with the point about people with advanced degrees in feminist, LGBTQ+, and human rights.
I recommend you put the name of your publication on the "Re Line." Otherwise I don't realize it is your newsletter.
The trouble with a degree in climate science instead of a degree in a wider subject is that a climate science faculty grouping is likely to be dominated by people who believe the prevailing orthodoxy that increases in carbon dioxide are the only significant cause of climate change.
As it turns out, there is increasing evidence that other factors such as decreases in sulfur dioxide pollution are also very important. In some areas where much high sulfur fuel was burned until its use was discontinued, like Quebec, the reduction in sulfur dioxide may be the major cause of warming.
The problem with hyper-specialized training such as in climate science is that the mindset tends to focus on existing dogma and suppress divergent ideas. This is corrosive to good science, and creates blindness to alternate approaches to problem solving.
For a wider discussion of this concept, see the excellent book "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein. Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the US Army until 2023, often recommended this book to officers.