Interference in science: scientists’ perspectives on their ability to communicate and conduct environmental research in Canada

Interference in science: scientists’ perspectives on their ability to communicate and conduct environmental research in Canada

Ran across an article today, with the above title. It’s a little dry, so I didn’t read it all. However, I was interrested in seeing if we were getting accurate reports on climate change, and the environment.

We’re all aware that there are media sources that don’t have all the facts about the issues they are reporting on. In fact, sometimes scientists and reporters experience interference that prevents them from publishing the truth.

Being a concerned father, and grandfather, I’m mostly worrried about the world, that’s going to be left to them to deal with it. This article didn’t help relieve my fears. It seems like it could be worse than what they are telling us.

Abstract
When researchers are sufficiently resourced to conduct research and communicate their findings, the knowledge produced can benefit the environment and society through policy. However, interference with the research process and its subsequent knowledge mobilization (“interference in science”) has been observed in several countries, particularly for environmental researchers. Using a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed environmental researchers in Canada (n = 741) to investigate the perceived prevalence, source, and effects of interference and considered whether these perceptions differ by region, career stage, research area, and membership in any scientific society. Although over half of researchers were not restricted from speaking to the media (54%), and most had never been asked to make “undue modifications” to their work (84%), the vast majority (92%) reported at least some degree of interference in their work during their careers. Consequences of interference were more prevalent among early-career researchers and included negative impacts on job satisfaction, mental health, and undue modification to work leading to inaccurate or incomplete science communication. Although environmental researchers in Canada deem themselves overall better able to conduct and communicate their work than under previous federal governments, reports of ongoing political interference remain concerning. We recommend increased support for researchers and further investigations into interference.

In the first chart we see that climate change and pollution, top the list.

In the second chart, we see that scientist were to downplay environmental risks.

Is this a reason to think there might be a lot they’re not telling us? |Read more https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0005 | facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/…

#cdnpoli #environment #ClimateChange #risks #secrets #transparency #honestly

Virgin Atlantic Makes First Transatlantic Flight Using Sustainable Jet Fuel

Virgin Atlantic has made the first transatlantic flight of a commercial passenger jet powered entirely by “sustainable” fuel.

Flight100 took off from London Heathrow and made its way across the Atlantic to New York’s JFK airport on a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mixture of mostly “waste fats,” as well as plant sugars, oil, proteins and fibers, a press release from Virgin Atlantic said.

“Flight100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and it’s the only viable solution for decarbonising long haul aviation. It’s taken radical collaboration to get here and we’re proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further,” said Shai Weiss, chief executive officer of Virgin Atlantic, in the press release.

“There’s simply not enough SAF and it’s clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment,” Weiss said. “This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms, backed by Government, are in place.”

One of the benefits of SAF over other potential alternative fuels is that it’s currently available, though its volume is less than 0.1 percent of the total amount of jet fuel worldwide.

“While other technologies such as electric and hydrogen remain decades away, SAF can be used now,” the press release said. “Flight100 will prove that the challenge of scaling up production is one of policy and investment.”

The Virgin Atlantic flight was made in a Boeing 787 powered by Rolls-Royce engines. |Read more https://www.ecowatch.com/sustainable-jet-fuel-virgin-atlantic.html | ecowatch.com/sustainable-jet-f…

#world #sustainable #fuel #decarbonising #JetFuel #VirginAtlantic #environment

988 suicide crisis helpline launches across Canada

Similar to 911, 3 digits will connect people to suicide prevention services quickly

Canada’s 988 hotline, which gives people access to suicide prevention services via call or text, went live on Thursday.

People in every province and territory who are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate, real-time support can use the three-digit number.

Similar to 911 for accessing fire, police and medical emergencies, 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline is a short, easy-to-remember number to get a quick response from coast to coast to coast, 24/7 and free of charge.

Dr. Allison Crawford, chief medical officer for the line, is co-ordinating the service. She is also a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the country’s largest teaching hospital for mental health based in Toronto.

Crawford said the goal of 988 is to prevent suicide.

What is 988?

Calls and texts to 988 are directed to a network of partners in communities across the country offering suicide prevention services such as counselling.

The 988 service is federally funded and available in English and French to all.
Why is it needed?

According to Statistics Canada, 4,500 people in this country die by suicide every year — equivalent to 12 people taking their own lives every day. For every death by suicide, at least seven to 10 people either attempted suicide or grieved the loss of someone who took their own life.

Tanya Joy suffered both. Joy of Paradise, N.L., started advocating for suicide prevention services in 2019 after her brother, Jody, died by suicide. Joy, 48, attempted to take her own life in 2007.

“I’m here, I lived,” she said. “I was fortunate enough to feel safe to call somebody, and I know that that’s why I’m here, because this person intervened.” |Read more https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/988-hotline-mental-health-canada-1.7043603 | cbc.ca/news/health/988-hotline…

#cdnpoli #suicide #prevention #help #english #french #death #everyone #canada

Storm-Resistant Housing Gains Foothold in U.S. Hurricane Zones

When Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle five years ago, it left boats, cars, and trucks piled up to the windows of Bonny Paulson’s home in the tiny coastal community of Mexico Beach, Florida, even though the house rests on pillars 14 feet above the ground. But Paulson’s home, with a rounded shape that looks something like a ship, shrugged off Category 5 winds that might otherwise have collapsed it.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Paulson told The Associated Press, recalling the warning to evacuate. Her house lost only a few shingles, with photos taken after the storm showing it standing whole amid the wreckage of almost all the surrounding homes.

See other designs https://www.deltechomes.com/

A person’s home is one of the biggest ways they can reduce their individual carbon footprint, AP writes, with buildings releasing about 38% of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions each year. Some of the carbon pollution comes from powering things like lights and air conditioners and some of it from making the construction materials, like concrete and steel.

Deltec, the company that built Paulson’s home, says only one of the nearly 1,400 it’s completed over the last three decades has suffered structural damage from hurricane-force winds. But the company puts as much emphasis on building green, with higher-quality insulation that reduces the need for air conditioning, heat pumps for more efficient heating and cooling, energy-efficient appliances, and of course solar.

“The real magic here is that we’re doing both,” said CEO Steve Linton. “I think a lot of times resilience is sort of the afterthought when you talk about sustainable construction, where it’s just kind of this is a feature on a list.” But “we believe that resilience is really a fundamental part of sustainability.” |Read more https://www.theenergymix.com/storm-resistant-housing-gains-foothold-in-u-s-hurricane-zones/ | theenergymix.com/storm-resista…

#world #environment #ExtremeStorms #safety #solar #homes #construction #resistant #Storms