cc: a.minns@uea.ac.uk date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 11:46:00 -0000 from: "Prof B.E. Launder" subject: Re: (Fwd) Re: (Fwd) Climate Change/ Environmental Issues to: Mike Hulme Mike: To respond to your second-paragraph query, Mia began by asking for someone to go against Professor Stott but, I guess, picking up the vibes I put out in my last note to her, she has broadened her possible list of topics. Frankly, I wouldn't myself want to take a strongly 'anti' position on any of the power options whether it be nuclear or even fossil-fuel (because, in the latter case, carbon sequestration offers interesting prospects especially if bolted onto coal-fired power). So, I would have thought that the Tyndall Centre would have most to contribute (and to gain) from an articulate response to Professor Stott. Brian Date sent: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 09:01:38 +0000 To: brian.launder@umist.ac.uk From: Mike Hulme < Subject: Re: (Fwd) Re: (Fwd) Climate Change/ Environmental Issues Copies to: a.minns@uea.ac.uk Times New RomanBrian,  Yes, indeed, Professor Stott is known to me and I have had a couple of radio debates with him in the past. His expertise is biogeography, although he seems to have made a reputation for himself (amongst the media, not the scientists) in disputing the credibility of climate models  I will give this some thought and discuss with Asher; by the way, the last email from Mia seemed to be looking for an anti-fossil or an anti-nuclear speaker from Tyndall rather than someone to debate with Stott - or have I mis-read?  Mike    At 17:41 18/02/03 +0000, you wrote: left0100,0100,0100Mike:   Here's a succession of emails exchanged between Mia Nybrant at  the Scientific Alliance (SA) and myself. While I've attached most of them, hopefully just her latest with this commentary will be sufficient for you to be able to respond. The SA is holding a 1-day discussion at the Royal Institution just a couple of weeks before our event. Though the underlying motivation for their event is somewhat similar to ours it is much broader in its coverage as it's a whole-day affair); I attach the outline programme that she sent up with her original email.   Anyway, around her third email she asked if the Tyndall Centre could contribute a speaker. I quizzed her as to the role and as you will see from her latest message she wants to have someone to go head-to-head against Professor Stott, who I gather does not believe in global warming. It seems to me that what is best needed to counter his arguments would be a real expert in the science. Since that isn't really Tyndall North's area I thought I'd check with you whether anyone at UEA would seem just right. Simon (who is simply unavailable on May 6th) commented to me that Stott is a pretty tricky and slippery debater so one would want to be confident that Tyndall could go in with a fire-proof case.   I look forward to your thoughts,   Brian  0100,0100,0100------- Forwarded message follows ------ Dear Brian  Many thanks. The opening session on "CO2 reduction policy" will focus on  the observational science. We expect Professor Stott to outline some of the  difficulties associated with the prediction of climate change including a  discussion of data collection and computer modelling. We are looking for a  counterpart speaker to present the case for confidence in climate change  data and computer modelling.  The later sessions on renewables, fossil fuels and nuclear will address the  engineering strategies available to achieve CO2 emission reductions. We are  still looking for speakers to present "The case against nuclear energy: risk  vs. reward" and "The case against fossil fuels" and would be happy if the  Tyndell Centre would prefer to put forward a speaker for one of these  session in preference to "The science behind the policy of CO2 reduction".  I look forward to hearing from you  Kindest regards  Mia  ----- Original Message -----  > Mia:  >  > I'm forwarding your invitation to some of my colleagues to invite  > their input (to me) on who at the Tyndall Centre might best be able  > to contribute to your meeting. The question of CO2 reduction is  > such a big field and it may be necessary to learn the angle or  > specialty area of Professor Stott before deciding who would best  > complement his talk. Is he concerned with the observational  > science of CO2 growth and the environmental impacts; or is he into  > the engineering/economic strategies for alleviating the problem? It  > is this last aspect that Tyndall North is especially focused on.  >  > Brian Launder  ____________________________________________ _____  > > Dear Professor Launder  >  > > Thank you very much for forwarding the information to your  communications  > > officer and for providing publicity for our event. We will do our  utmost to  > > return the favour. I will send you copies of the brochure when it is  ready,  > > which will have the price and details of speakers etc on it (let's  discuss  > > nearer the time how many copies you would like).  > > However, some of the speakers so far are Professor Phillip Stott,  University  > > of London, speaking in the session on CO2 Reduction Policy; Phillip  Wolfe,  > > Renewable Power Association speaking on Renewables; and Dr Nick Riley,  > > British Geological Survey on Fossil Fuels.  > > I would like to invite you, or appropriate colleague, to speak on the  > > session on CO2 Reduction Policy and debate the issue with Professor  Stott.  > > This would include 15-20 minutes presentation followed directly by a  short  > > Q&A and a more general Panel Discussion at the end of the day.  > >  > > Please do not hesitate to call me on 020 7484 5094 or email me with any  > > queries you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.  > >  > > Kindest regards  > >  > > Mia  > >  > > ----- Original Message -----  > > From: "Prof B.E. Launder" <  > > To: "Mia Nybrant" <  > > Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 9:21 AM  > > Subject: Re: (Fwd) Climate Change/ Environmental Issues  > >  > >  > > > Dear Ms Nybrant:  > > >  > > > Thanks for getting back in touch with me. I will forward your email  > > > and its attachment to our communications officer requesting that  > > > he should alert the Tyndall Community to your 1-day debate. I've  > > > marked the date in my diary in the hope that I will be able to attend  > > > myself. It would be good to know the names of speakers. Are  > > > these nearly ready to be disclosed? Also, we would want to know  > > > of any charges for participating in "Powering the UK's Future". With  > > > this extra information we'll be happy to give your event all the  > > > publicity we can.  > > >  > > > Best wishes,  > > >  > > > Brian Launder  > > >  > > > ____________________________________________ ___________  > > > > Dear Professor Launder   > > > > Many thanks for your email and I am sorry for the slight delay in my  > > > > response. We would be delighted to forward any information about  your  > > > > debate to our members, as well as posting the details on our  website.   > > > > We are organising a conference on 6 May at the Royal Institution  > > entitled  > > > > "2020 Vision -Powering the UK's Future". The aim is to outline the  > > > > scientific arguments for and against a policy of CO2 reductions and,  in  > > the  > > > > light of the Government's Energy White Paper, to discuss what role  > > different  > > > > forms of energy supply can contribute toward this goal. I have  attached  > > a  > > > > draft outline of the conference for your information and I would be  very  > > > > interested to hear your comments on it. Please also let me know if  you  > > have  > > > > any suggestions for speakers.   > > 0000,0000,FF00http://www.scientific- alliance.org/conference/conf_find_default.htm > > > Kindest regards  > > > > Mia Nybrant  > > > > Development Director  > > > > The Scientific Alliance  > > > > Golden Cross House  > > > > 8 Duncannon Street  > > > > London WC2N 4JF  > > > > Tel: 020 7484 5094  > > > > Fax: 020 7484 5100  > > > > 0000,0000,FF00www.scientific-alliance.org  0100,0100,0100------e -------   leftCourier NewProfessor B. E. Launder, FRS, FREng MAME Department, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK   Telephone: 0161-200-3701 Fax : 0161-200-3723   <
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  << Prof B. E. Launder, FRS, FREng Regional Director, Tyndall North Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK Tel: 44-(0)161-200-3701