I listen to NPR during my commute because it’s intelligent, thought provoking, and most importantly, calming.  I like the variety of the stories for the most part (stories about mouse sperm or Shakira not included) and I like the way I’ll hear someone say something that really gets me thinking a couple times a week.

This morning, there was a story about how some hackers released some emails a couple months back which revealed climate change folks considering ways to prevent the publishing of data which might support those opposed to the climate change theory, or might have suggested how to spin results to better support their cause, but I can agree with Dr. David Gutzler’s suggestion that, when people are truly passionate about what they’re doing, it’s possible for a little subjectivity to come into play, even in a scientific environment.

What really got me thinking this morning was this comment by a “Chris Fallen” (without a transcript, I’m unable to confirm I’ve spelled his name right and I was unable to find him after some time on Google and the Royal Meteorological Society site).

It should be very good to make all the data sets available that contribute to that land surface temperature data set and, of course, the sea surface data set and, indeed, all of the other major data sets as used in climate science.

As an avid, online collaborator in the automotive world (often criticized as being part of the problem), I think this is brilliance.  Yet, Fallen went on to say that such a thing really isn’t possible due to much of this data being proprietary.

Proprietary?

The climate change camp is quick to warn us all that climate change is caused by man; by our consumption of resources or, at a minimum, our sheer numbers.  Climate change is posed as a serious threat to the future of our planet and the survival of our species.  Nevermind that we should be concerned about the preservation of our own environment as a rule, climate change is a very real threat to life as we know it, and God help us all if we can’t figure out a way to reverse the trend immediately!

Yet rather than pool the data and work collaboratively towards the common goal of saving the planet – nay – mankind, much of the data which might lead to a raft of new solutions or ideas is proprietary.  When the data is proprietary, that means personal gain, be it vanity or profit, has come before the cause.

If you claim to dedicate your life’s work to saving the planet and fighting climate change, yet do not make your data and results fully public so that others can collaborate and work towards that end, then you are showing your true colors as a person or organization seeking to profit on fearmongering and propaganda.  If you all were to work together and demonstrate to the people of the world that profits and fame are not your ultimate goals – that you have nothing to hide – you might find people more apt to listen and consider your views.  Otherwise…

Actions speak louder than words.

The story from NPR this morning if you’ve got 4min.  Listen with an open mind.  Got me thinking.  What about you?

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