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SUMMARY:Ozone Depletion: Science and Scientific Assessments - Dr Keynyn Br
 ysse\, Princeton University
DTSTART:20090316T141500Z
DTEND:20090316T151500Z
UID:TALK17076@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Francis Pope
DESCRIPTION:The way scientists of the 1970s and 80s learned about ozone de
 pletion is often presented as a rational model for developing a knowledge 
 base about the sweeping questions raised by global change. The creation of
  the 'ozone regime' is also offered as a classic example of how science wo
 rked and informed decisions that turned out to be sensible and effective. 
 Specifically\, the interaction between science and policy in the ozone exa
 mple\, mediated by assessments\, is presented as a model. Despite the fact
  that some analysts\, such as Edward Parson and Karen Litfin\, have highli
 ghted the crucial role of scientific assessments in this history\, little 
 study has been made of the assessment process (as opposed to the policy ne
 gotiation process).  \n\nAs a historian of science\, I believe that a hist
 orical analysis of ozone depletion science and the ozone assessment proces
 s is important\, because to the extent that science is a progressive under
 taking with a generalized methodology\, then studying past scientific epis
 odes can yield lessons applicable to future scientific endeavors.  Accordi
 ngly\, my project is focused on both the learning process for individual s
 cientists and the group judgment process embodied in assessments. Some of 
 the issues that arise are: How do scientists decide what particular resear
 ch opportunities to pursue\, in a field where observations are often spars
 e\, models are often difficult to validate\, and laboratory experiments ca
 n be extremely challenging? Why are certain routes to knowledge adopted wh
 ile others are not? How do assessments weigh the various types of evidence
  when one or all three of these components (modeling\, observation\, exper
 iment) is lacking?  One avenue I intend to pursue in researching these iss
 ues is the discovery of the importance of heterogeneous chemistry in ozone
  depletion. What factors led to its being put on the back burner in early 
 assessments\, and what factors led to the later understanding of its impor
 tance? This seminar will be an open discussion of these and other question
 s about the science\, and scientific assessment\, of ozone depletion.\n\nM
 y work is part of a larger project in the history\, philosophy\, and socio
 logy of science\, and my colleagues (Jessica O’Reilly at the University 
 of California\, San Diego\, and Will Thomas at the American Institute of P
 hysics)\, are studying the scientific learning and assessment processes su
 rrounding the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the West Antar
 ctic Ice Sheet.
LOCATION:Unilever Lecture Theatre\, Department of Chemistry
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