Unmuzzling government scientists is just the first step

[Oliver88]

If a scientist mentions the words "climate change" .....ten years ago it was "global warming" there will be more grants, funding and employment vs one of us evil "deniers".

So I'd say there is an incentive to be a global warming fear mongerer.

The irony is many of the scientists, including the darling of the CBC David Suzuki are totally opposed to GMO's and Gloden Rice.

[dmlfarmer]

Tom, and you don't think GMO is political? Only grown in a handful of countries, outright banned in others, trade restrictions. Now that is political!

You are correct, as science evolves and we learn more science does change its position and that is what should happen. But science also reflects the best information we have at the time.

Science overcomes politics. We found out the earth was round not because of politics but because scientists preserved in spite of politicans and religion (religion has likely suppressed more science than politicans ever have).

[dmlfarmer]

Oliver88: How many scientists are there in the world? Of course you will find some scientists on both sides of any issue. That is not irony, it is critically important that we always question.

You point out Suzuki. Let me counter with two headlines made by Neil deGrasse Tyson
recently:

Neil deGrasse Tyson Infuriates Climate Change Deniers
Neil deGrasse Tyson Tells GMO Critics to "Chill Out"

[TOM4CWB]

DML etel;
What is a 'Scientist?
Dictionary meaning...
"A scientist, in a broad sense, is a person engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge."

Exactly what all of us on Agriville are.

More restricted meaning:
" a scientist may refer to an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. "

So... now by necessity... we need to know what 'Scientific Method' is.

"The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry is commonly based on empirical or measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning."

None of these purposes nor their practice require any kind of University Degree.

Red Herring... to pick certain people... because of political stature... Educational snobbery... or media acclaim... to judge how 'good' or 'bad' their opinion is. This is like dust blowing in the wind... the storm in the future will blow all their ideas into the sand dunes of the future! Just because someone is paid public taxpayers money... does not make them any more an authority... than an ant building an ant hill!
Good work if you can get it... and you soon will be replaced!

[foragefarmer]

Chris Hadfield, just gave an interview on CBC, and he's very pleased that Canadian scientists will be able to share information with the Canadian public and scientists around the world once again.

Harper's Con/Reformers, prevent that from happening for four and a half years.

I was hoping he would have preformed "Space Oddity".

"Ground Control to Major Tom" great song!!!