One of the distinctions between the Trump and Biden administrations: their different views of science.
Describing how his administration would manage COVID-19 and climate change, President Biden talks about "following the science."
During a trip to California, former President Trump, when told warming temperatures, a sign of climate change, were contributing to the wild fires ravaging the state, responded "It will start getting cooler, just you watch." Challenged that his opinion did not jive with the scientific consensus, Trump said, “I don’t think science knows, actually.” [1]
The former President makes a valid point. Science doesn't always know.
Initially, the CDC and WHO discounted that COVID-19 was spread through the air, so wearing masks was not deemed necessary. [2] Now, masks are viewed as a highly effective defense. Initially, the agencies didn't think stopping international travel was warranted. As the coronavirus spread across oceans on plane flights, the guidance changed, either barring travel or requiring that travelers quarantine.
While science doesn't always know, the scientific method leads to the truth.
The scientific method begins with a hypothesis and then tests it with data. If the data doesn't support the hypothesis, a new hypothesis is devised. Ultimately, through this iterative cycle, the scientific method arrives at the truth.
Actually, the coronavirus does travel in the air farther than thought. Masks can prevent it from entering the body. Well ventilated spaces — particularly outdoors — reduce the possibility of infection.
Scientists don't know the truth. They arrive at the truth. Human, they often become attached to their hypotheses. Data keeps them humble. A colleague of mine had a sign in his office:
Describing how his administration would manage COVID-19 and climate change, President Biden talks about "following the science."
During a trip to California, former President Trump, when told warming temperatures, a sign of climate change, were contributing to the wild fires ravaging the state, responded "It will start getting cooler, just you watch." Challenged that his opinion did not jive with the scientific consensus, Trump said, “I don’t think science knows, actually.” [1]
The former President makes a valid point. Science doesn't always know.
Initially, the CDC and WHO discounted that COVID-19 was spread through the air, so wearing masks was not deemed necessary. [2] Now, masks are viewed as a highly effective defense. Initially, the agencies didn't think stopping international travel was warranted. As the coronavirus spread across oceans on plane flights, the guidance changed, either barring travel or requiring that travelers quarantine.
While science doesn't always know, the scientific method leads to the truth.
The scientific method begins with a hypothesis and then tests it with data. If the data doesn't support the hypothesis, a new hypothesis is devised. Ultimately, through this iterative cycle, the scientific method arrives at the truth.
Actually, the coronavirus does travel in the air farther than thought. Masks can prevent it from entering the body. Well ventilated spaces — particularly outdoors — reduce the possibility of infection.
Scientists don't know the truth. They arrive at the truth. Human, they often become attached to their hypotheses. Data keeps them humble. A colleague of mine had a sign in his office:
In God we trust. All others bring data.
President Biden should be saying his administration will follow the scientific method. And we, the public, should be patient and not discount science because the process of finding the truth takes time and often zig zags.
References
[1] Trump spurns science on climate: 'Don't think science knows,' Associated Press, September 14, 2020
[2] The 60-Year-Old Scientific Screwup That Helped Covid Kill, Wired, May 13, 2021