Innovation in Education

Climate science under attack

BY David A. Kaplan, contributor


FORTUNE -- In the early 1990s, when Michael Mann was at Yale working on his Ph.D. in the geology and geophysics department, he became fascinated with theoretical climate modeling. By studying data inferred from ancient sources like tree rings and coral and ice cores, he could understand natural fluctuations in climate over the eons. Mann envisioned a quiet career in the halls of academe. In 1995 he made a big splash in paleoclimatology with his co-publication in Nature of -- wow! -- "Global Interdecadal and Century-Scale Climate Oscillations During the Past Five Centuries." So what's a nerd like him doing at the center of a raging debate over academic freedom? "I had absolutely no idea what I was bargaining for," Mann told Fortune.

Based on his research, Mann, 44, became a leading global-warming scholar, first at the University of Virginia and now at Penn State. The data, he declared, were irrefutable: Human activity has caused rising temperatures -- particularly in recent decades -- and could one day imperil life. Fossil-fuel companies and other doubters have long challenged the certitude of such conclusions, and global-warming deniers often single out Mann as a scientist with a political agenda.

michael_mann.03.jpg
Michael Mann: "I had absolutely no idea what I was bargaining for."

The skepticism gained widespread media attention last November when hackers publicized hundreds of e-mails among prominent climatologists, including Mann. Global-warming deniers said the stolen e-mails demonstrated climatologists were willing to manipulate evidence. CLIMATEGATE! proclaimed uncreative headline writers. Yet despite the smug, petty opinions expressed in some e-mail, five review panels cleared the climatologists of unethical conduct. In Mann's case, the attorney general of Virginia had even charged that he'd defrauded taxpayers in obtaining nearly a half-million dollars in grants while at UVA. Several weeks ago a judge dismissed those civil charges, which the state plans to refile.

Mann says the AG's investigation represents a "witch hunt" that is the predictable culmination of efforts by "vested interests" to attack not only science but scientists. He says the threat to the academy isn't theoretical and knows of graduate students who've decided to steer clear of research in global studies for fear of controversy. Others in climatology never list their home addresses and have bodyguards at public-speaking events. Mann himself says he's had to contact law enforcement over harassing e-mail and snail mail; read one: "I was hoping I would see the news that you'd committed suicide. Do it, freak."

There's no excuse for that kind of implicit threat. It's hard to forget that the acts of the Unabomber maimed professors. And McCarthyism proved that mere words could jeopardize academic freedom. But it's wise to remember that demonizing scientists is nothing new. Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species 151 years ago. Six decades later the Scopes trial was a national spectacle, and evolution remains a target for opportunists who can't distinguish between religion and fact. Even so, most of us are wise enough to recognize that creationism isn't a danger to science. "I used to believe that truth would prevail in the public discourse over climate change," says a frustrated Mann. He ought to have a bit more faith.  To top of page

Just the hot list include
Frontline troops push for solar energy
The U.S. Marines are testing renewable energy technologies like solar to reduce costs and casualties associated with fossil fuels. Play
25 Best Places to find rich singles
Looking for Mr. or Ms. Moneybags? Hunt down the perfect mate in these wealthy cities, which are brimming with unattached professionals. More
Fun festivals: Twins to mustard to pirates!
You'll see double in Twinsburg, Ohio, and Ketchup lovers should beware in Middleton, WI. Here's some of the best and strangest town festivals. Play
Company Price Change % Change
Ford Motor Co 8.29 0.05 0.61%
Advanced Micro Devic... 54.59 0.70 1.30%
Cisco Systems Inc 47.49 -2.44 -4.89%
General Electric Co 13.00 -0.16 -1.22%
Kraft Heinz Co 27.84 -2.20 -7.32%
Data as of 2:44pm ET
Index Last Change % Change
Dow 32,627.97 -234.33 -0.71%
Nasdaq 13,215.24 99.07 0.76%
S&P 500 3,913.10 -2.36 -0.06%
Treasuries 1.73 0.00 0.12%
Data as of 6:29am ET
Sponsors

Sections

Bankrupt toy retailer tells bankruptcy court it is looking at possibly reviving the Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us brands. More

Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford charts her career path, from her first job to becoming the first openly gay CEO at a Fortune 500 company in an interview with CNN's Boss Files. More

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.