Letters to the editor 1/19

Harbison holds no expertise in climate change

The global warming theory took a hit from Dr. Gerard Harbison of the Chemistry Department in a Jan. 13 Daily Nebraskan column titled "Alarmists bring nothing new." This is not the first time he has written on the subject, but at least this time it was clearly an opinion piece, evidenced by its placement on the editorial page. Still, it is regrettable that he might be perceived as an authority on climate issues when it is not clear that he really is. In fact, I have determined that virtually all his statements and conclusions could have been derived from contrarian sites on the Internet.

It concerns me that Dr. Harbison might be using his position to promulgate the impression that he understands the research behind climate change more than he really does. His writing is replete with pronouncements and certitudes, and there is a dismissive and even disdainful attitude toward those who do not possess his insights. In another article last fall he exhibited what I perceive as a preachy stance, utilizing his background in chemistry to lecture the DN readership with technical details, carefully annotated so that the rest of us could grasp their implications. Unfortunately, most people are unprepared to challenge him publicly, or even to engage privately in a thorough analysis of his statements.

While Dr. Harbison and others may dissuade many regarding global warming, truth in science is independent of public opinion and of whatever any of us may do or say. The stars and planets did not revolve around the earth, even though at one time only a few intellectuals believed otherwise.

Consequently, global warming will not be disproved by any mistakes made years ago by climate researchers, nor by the foibles of its proponents. It will not be disproved by dismissing out-of-hand the scientists and their research that reveals it. It will not be disproved by attributing malevolent motives to government officials. It will not be disproved by cherry picking, falsification of reports, or hacking old e-mails. It will not be disproved by Dr. Harbison's apparent desire for it to be false.

Charles Riedesel

Assistant Professor of Computer Science & Engineering