In my latest Ball State University Alumnus Magazine this letter to the editor caught my eye. What better reason to study science than to be able to make educated decisions about the ideas to which we offer our support, financially, politically, etc.?
No evidence that society causes climate change."...The greatest danger we face is not climate change, it is ignorance of facts about climate change.
As a graduate of Ball State's biology department, I was trained well in investigation using the scientific method for research, training which has been applied to the climate change issue for over two decades.
The most troubling 'fact' about global warming is the notion that we are the cause of it. There is ample scientific evidence that climate changes on a cyclical basis, completely independent of our influences. These climatic variability patterns have mirrored the solar output levels as far back as we have data.
There is no conclusive evidence that we humans are causing the temperataure to rise or change for that matter, by increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. There is good data, however, that shows doubling the carbon dioxide level actually improves plant growth.
I am all for reducing pollution and living a life of moderate, sustainable consumption. It is unfortunate that the true science of climatology has fallen prey to a strong political element which uses false assumptions and distorted data to incite fear in order to effect change."
Chris Krauskopf, '87
Louisville, KY
