What is your science background?

Question

I'm interested in knowing the science background of people that have strong feelings on this issue. I'd like to know whether you believe in anthropogenic global warming (just yes or no!) and tell me if you have any degrees, what they're in, relevant classes you've taken, etc. I'd like to find out how true my own personal stereotypes are. Please be truthful, thanks.

Answer 1

yes i haven't took any big claases on it.

Answer 2

Yes, I believe in global warming.  I have two bachelors degrees with classes in basic Chemistry and Biology, but my degrees are not scientific, unless you count a lot of math.

Answer 3

I'm not a supporter of AGW.  My education was in physical geography. IMO solar activity has more to do with any warming or cooling trend than greenhouse gases. I think our attention would be better directed towards water quality or soil conservation or any one of a multitude of subjects where we can see human impact.  2007 ended up cooling off quite a bit. Anyways, I'd be more scared of long term global cooling than global warming.

Answer 4

The course of my life was probably changed when, in high school, I opted to take chemistry rather than biology because I didn't want to disect a frog.  I ended up going into communications, but wound up years later becoming a trained naturalist, leading tours and doing programs to educate the public.  This meant having at least a rudimentary grasp of many scientific concepts.

Years later, my by now paid position shifted to more of a land steward role.  I went back to school for a restoration ecology certificate, best thing that ever happened to me.

I do believe humans have accelerated natural cycles on the planet.  I took a chunk of time off from this site and researched the topic, gathering sites and reading abstracts.  One answer would raise 4 more questions.  I wasn't sure if I was driven or obsessed.

What kicked me into gear was the birth of my first grandchild.  He's a bright fellow, and nowadays going through grandma's backyard is like going to the park used to be.  I'm laying the groundwork for science in his education.  He's 3 1/2, and we're starting to call birds finches, sparrows, and hummingbirds, we're learning why you don't squish the spiders, which is lesson 1 in food webs.

My strong feelings, then, come from being a naturalist since 1990, and from building on the foundation as a volunteer until I was qualified enough to work in the field.  I rub shoulders with some amazing people.  The guys who write the books.  Professors who volunteer their time to lead tours and identify key species and explain -- or try to -- their worth.

I think the more people get out into the wild, the more that right person puts things into perspective when you're receptive to it, the more inclined they are to feel passion about preserving this planet.  Even if global climate change wasn't happening, the changes being implemented and that will be implemented are needed.

I will be very interested in seeing the answers here.  I hope they're not all as long winded as mine!

Answer 5

Biology, along with lots natural science, could say I was one of those hippie professional students. Did a little coop work with a struggling alternative energy company but that field disappeared.(1977-80ish)

I aways wanted to be a Forest Ranger. The recruiter informed me there was a 18 month waiting list for individuals with an MS. The top pay was 18k, so I repaired the equipment instead for 25k...had a family to feed.

Yes, I believe in cause and effects.

Answer 6

AA; But I have loved nature since birth, because I was raised in the most beautiful natural settings. Forest, sea, gardens, I also saw them get ruined by people, and that made me a passionate environmentalist.

Answer 7

MSc Biological Sciences, worked in chemical engineering (pharmaceutical manufacturing, acid plants, pollution prevention), biochemical engineering (immuno globulins, immobilisation of mammalian cell cultures, harvesting high value by products from genetically modified bacterial cultures), environmental protection, aerospace engineering (engine temperature management systems, laser temperature measurement of working turbine parts). Man made global warming is complete bollocks

Answer 8

Well talking about global warming, i am confused. If global warming is a genuine threat then i am harrowed with it. But if it is merely a propaganda from the Western world, then i am not scared with all this.

Answer 9

Yes, I do believe that the modern-day global climate change (not just warming) is human intervention.

I have an AA with an emphasis in humanities and the arts.

I have an AS with an emphasis in environmental sciences.

I have a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies.

I have a MA in Applied Geography with my research in changing landscapes.  

My BA & MA degrees are from the University of Colorado.

I have taken over 60 credit hours of chemistry, physics, geology, biology, astronomy, and mathematics.  Many of them environment/ecology based.

I have also taken as many credit hours in cultural anthropology, humanities, psychology, human, regional, urban and cultural geography.

Answer 10

i dont care about global warming. you guys do cuz im almost dead anyways

Answer 11

My first two years of college were directed toward microbiology and natural resource management.  My last two years of college were directed toward hazardous materials.  My degree is an Associate of Applied Science in Hazardous Materials.  The classes involved in my education have been heavily science oriented, including science, biology, and chemistry, but also included classes on how hazardous materials impact environmental systems, human bodies, etc.  Classes also OSHA regulations, EPA regulations, and DOT regulations in the United States related to hazardous materials and working with them safely.  

I've worked for an environmental engineering firm in Reno and Denver, doing work at Superfund sites performing environmental remediation - hazardous waste cleanup.  I've performed hazardous waste emergency response cleanup, hazardous waste management, hazardous waste sampling, and even surface/groundwater monitoring/sampling.  I've also worked at a hazardous waste incinerator for a couple years - both out in the plant in the feed systems - where the waste goes into the burners, the pollution control systems - where the incinerator off-gases are cleaned/scrubbed, the ash-handling areas - where the leftovers are collected, sampled, confirmed to be non-hazardous, and then shipped to a hazardous waste landfill for final disposal, and finally I worked in the control room of that facility where I monitored/operated the process to ensure that the materials were thoroughly destroyed in the furnaces.  

For the last dozen years or so, I've worked for a copper mining company at their smelting/refining facility, operating the plant from the central control room.  I currently operate their acid plant where the smelter's furnace off gases which contain roughly 350,000 parts per million sulfur dioxide are cleaned - producing sulfuric acid which is sold as a product to various industries - and the resulting emissions from my acid plant are generally less than 75 parts per million sulfur dioxide.  I also operated a water treatment facility for this company where several wastewater streams are processed to remove any hazardous materials prior to those liquids being discharged to a secure impound facility - and the water is also recycled.  The company I work for currently recycles approximately 85% of all water used in their various processes.  

Throughout my working career, I've maintained a desire to continue learning and to do what I could to help protect the environment - while still practicing "responsible use" of our natural resources...

...which is unfortunately one of the biggest things that radical environmentalists seem to want to fight.  They feel it's their duty to protect the environment from everything - and in many cases they end up loving the planet to death.  They will file lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit to stop any development that will impact the environment - even if there is a remediation plan that is part of the development.  

I grew up in a rural community in California that had a population of 1,100 people, and I've lived in Chile, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah.  I've enjoyed the outdoors for 40 years, and I hope to be able to enjoy the outdoors for at least another 40...provided radical environmentalists don't "lock up" the outdoors and prohibit me from experiencing them.  

Do I believe in protecting the environment?  Yes.

Do I believe in responsible use of our natural resources?  Yes.

Do I believe in recycling?  Yes.

Do I believe in reusing items if possible?  Yes.  

Do I believe in anthropogenic global warming?  No.

I believe you're giving too much "credit" to the human race for that one.  The planet has cycles - and has had cycles for millions of years.  Humans haven't been around all that long, so to say that we're the root cause of any problem the planet has, is a bit on the egocentric side.  The same can be said by people who say that there isn't "intelligent life" in other parts of the galaxy.  Doesn't that sound ridiculous?  That people can actually suggest that humans are the only form of intelligent life "out there"?  

Now...  Do humans impact the environment?  Of course.  Our very existence impacts the environment.  The trick is minimizing our NEGATIVE impact to the environment.  

Alright, this got long-winded, but you get where I'm coming from.  

Peace out, compadre.

Answer 12

PhD Physics, post-doc at Cambridge University, currently the chief scientist for a biotechnology company where I lead a multi-disciplinary research group that at various times includes physicists, chemists, engineers (chemical, electrical & mechanical) microbiologists and environmental biologists. My own areas of expertise include molecular spectroscopy, chemical physics, chemometrics and crystallography.  I  support the AGW theory.

Answer 13

I believe that humans have an effect on the climate.  I can't deny it.  We are a part of nature.  However, the answer to   'Is "global warming" anthropogenic?' is: insignificantly.  I despise litter, excess consumption, and opulence.  I am an avid outdoorsman and Scouter, and believe that we will inherit the earth, so we need to treat it like our home.

My background: bach. science (education) major: industrial education, post-graduate studies in statistics, quality control, and research, Air Force (aircraft maintenance officer) stationed at Tinker AFB, Elmendorf AFB, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Occupation: facilities manager at Clark Planetarium.

Answer 14

I do believe that Global warming is a big scam manipulated by the governments worldwide to provoke panic attacks in societies and to control them with brainwashing techniques.

The elite government (aka shadow government) is using a very powerful brainwashing technique called Hegelian Dialetic. Hitler & Stalin used to control their masses and were successful.

It is working here very good. Societies are in panic about this "problem"

My 2 cents.

Answer 15

Your question to whether I believe in anthropogenic global warming is  yes, but I am skeptical about the future climate prediction and the catastrophic events that are predicted to happen due to AGW.  I get a my information from John Christy and have read and listened to his opinion on the subject matter.

I am a ex logger with a degree in Electrical Engineering