date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:14:48 +0100
from: "Carroll Victoria" <Victoria.Carroll@ScienceMuseum.org.uk>
subject: RE: Climate change request - In Confidence
to: "Phil Jones" <p.jones@uea.ac.uk>

   Hi Phil


   Thanks for your comments - they're useful. We'll need to be careful not to imply that
   climate scientists know everything there is to know about the climate system, and about how
   technologies, say, would effect it. (This issue of how to communicate uncertainty to the
   public is a hot topic at the moment in science communication, especially in connection with
   climate change.)


   As for your second comment, we are planning to look at the basics of life cycle analysis in
   the exhibition, which will bring in the point about fertilizers, decommissioning, etc
   needing to be taken into account.


   Thanks again for your help - it's really helpful to know what other people think are the
   most important messages to get across.


   Best wishes


   Vicky


   ___________________________________________________________________________________________

   From: Phil Jones [mailto:p.jones@uea.ac.uk]
   Sent: 30 July 2007 15:20
   To: Carroll Victoria
   Subject: Re: Climate change request - In Confidence


    Vicky,
      Your toolkit assumes there is a technological solution to mitigate climate change.
    By definition this assumes we fully understand the climate system, and I don't
    think we do - in the sense that if we do something, we know what the effect will be.
       On biofuels, we need to fully understand the advantages. Will be need to
    use so much nitrogen fertilizer to produce the crops. I guess these aspects will
    be addressed in your three questions, but there needs to be a full budget analysis
    of the savings made. This is similar to knowing the full costs of nuclear power
    including all aspects of decommissioning.
       As you say though technological solutions are not my area of research.
    Cheers
    Phil
   At 14:52 24/07/2007, you wrote:

   Dear Phil, Keith, Nathan
   I hope you're both well. Further to our meeting in May I wondered if I might be able to
   pick your brains regarding an up-coming `Antenna Feature' on climate change that I'm
   working on. In particular, I'd appreciate any feedback on the idea, outlined below, for a
   `toolkit' to help Science Museum visitors get to grips with the current debates surrounding
   proposed technological `solutions' for climate change - e.g. biofuels, nuclear power,
   reflectors in space, etc.
   Just to clarify - when I visited back in May I was working on the Museum's major 2009
   Climate Change gallery and Holly Cave was working on the Antenna Feature. Plans for the
   2009 gallery are progressing well and we've had a really positive response from everyone
   we've contacted about the project so far. I've now been seconded onto the Antenna team (who
   deal with contemporary science news) to help deliver the smaller (and necessarily more
   focused) Feature, which will launch this October.
   Here's where we've got to so far:
   - Our starting point is that climate change is a serious challenge and science and
   technology have an important role to play in dealing with it. Scientists are exploring new
   technologies which they hope will help to mitigate climate change. However, to the average
   visitor, the debates surrounding these technologies can seem complex and confusing.
   - We want to provide visitors with a toolkit of, say, three simple questions which will
   help them better to understand the pros and cons of particular technologies and engage with
   current debates. The example we plan to focus on in the exhibition is biofuels, but the
   central messages will also be applicable to other technologies.
   The `toolkit' questions we are currently working with are:
   1. Will/how will the technology help mitigate climate change?
   2. Is the technology practically achievable?
   3. Is the technology sustainable? (to include environmental and social aspects)
   The exhibition will also include background information about the physical science basis
   and likely impacts of climate change and opportunities for feedback.
   I realise that technology is not your main area of research, but we'd really like to get a
   range opinions on our ideas for the exhibition, especially on the 3 questions in the
   toolkit. Do you think they usefully capture the main issues which arise when assessing
   proposed technological solutions? Are there any important questions we might have
   overlooked? As the questions will underlie the whole Feature it is obviously important that
   we get them right!
   Do phone me if you think that would be easiest - I can also explain more about exhibition
   if that would be helpful.
   I very much look forward to hearing from you.
   Best wishes
   Vicky
   Vicky Carroll
   Curator
   Science Museum
   Exhibition Road
   London SW7 2DD
   Email: victoria.carroll@sciencemuseum.org.uk
   Web: [1]www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
   Tel: +44 (0) 20 7942 4219
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   Prof. Phil Jones
   Climatic Research Unit        Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090
   School of Environmental Sciences    Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784
   University of East Anglia
   Norwich                          Email    p.jones@uea.ac.uk
   NR4 7TJ
   UK
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   If you want to help inspire the next generation of scientists, creators and inventors back
   NMSI's transformational new project, Inspired. More than a museum, Inspired will be a
   hothouse of invention and innovation, making science serious fun for all.
   It's your future: be Inspired
   Visit www.voteinspired.org.uk or text 'SMS Inspired' to 88833 for more information.
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