Ecology is the E in FED, the engine room of food production for both subsistence and intensive agriculture. Here we explain why good ecology is central to feeding everyone...
Doubt opinions and find facts
The healthy sceptic is not a know it all who sounds like a Richard but is balanced and assured of what is fact and what is fiction. Sceptics easily recognise the fallacious argument however clever and can smile, walk away or take the Michael. A healthy sceptic is less likely to be duped, taken for a ride, pulled for a fast one, get fooled and can avoid the embarrassment of believing in nonsense spread by the average John Doe. More important than all this is that a healthy sceptic can find the facts and know what matters and when it does. This is an essential skill to save the planet.
MarkHealthy Sceptic Topics
Take care with percentages
Proportional change can be misleading, so here we have a short reminder of the need to take care when thinking about percentages.
The tale of the elephant
There are many reasons for scientific research, from product development to saving the planet; all are justifiable to a degree, but sometimes the objectives get a little out of whack and affect the science. Here is an...
Avoid confusion over important terms
Nature includes biodiversity and biodiversity helps deliver ecosystem services while conservation assigns value to some of the components. How sure are you of the meaning of these technical terms?
Food requirements if affluence slows
Scientists are human too or so it is said. But unlike most of the customers in the local pub, they tend not to criticise outside of their discipline. Here we look at why that is a problem.
The best is the enemy of the good
When the good is good enough it might be better to run with it than wait for the best to appear. When time is short it can be the only option.
Do we need questions or answers?
Some politicians seem to think that asking the question holds the moral high ground. To them, it doesn't matter that answers require actions.
Should teachers know the settled science?
According to the latest education research, teachers are overworked, underpaid, and overwhelmed by the need to know the settled science.
When the science is precise, but nothing happens
Certain types of scientists get to stand next to the politicians—objectivity supplied by the majority is ignored
Scientific agreement is nowhere near enough to convince John Doe
Good satire is excruciating; it should make you squirm. It is a shame that this is what it takes to get our attention…
Always be polite to an expert, then consider the evidence
Just because there are experts everywhere and we pretend to already know what they tell us, they still deserve our respect.
Healthy sceptics can easily agree to disagree
In a swordfight, maintaining balance can mean an effective parry or a fatal gash. Sceptics also need great balance.
Not all science education is helpful
Objectivity must be the focus of environmental education and leave all the normative science as opinions where they belong.
The art and science of the opinion
Humans are opinion machines. Here are some rules of thumb to chasten your opinions and help pick decisions that are important to you and the collective well-being...
Who should conduct the orchestra?
The best orchestras in the world have conductors that bring the musicians together. The same applies to science with all its players and instruments. The question is: who gets the baton?
