Post by scpg02 on Oct 17, 2014 16:07:27 GMT
The constancy of change and the new catastrophism: a personal reflection on crisis-driven science
by Nick Eyles and Andrew D. Miall – Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto
geosociety.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/the-constancy-of-change-and-the-new-catastrophism-a-personal-reflection-on-crisis-driven-science/
by Nick Eyles and Andrew D. Miall – Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto
In 2010, we published what is now a best-selling (and award-winning) book Canada Rocks-The Geologic Journey aimed at telling the dramatic story for a public audience of how Canada (and North America) has evolved over the last 4 billion years. It was a milestone in our professional and personal lives as we went on many field trips to fill in gaps in our own understanding and in the process stepped well beyond our own areas of expertise. We learned much about this fantastic country and its geology.
What is patently obvious from reviewing Canada’s ancient history is that scientists still do not have an adequate understanding of Earth’s complex systems on which to base sound economic and environmental policy. From the upper reaches of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans onwards to the deep interior of the planet our knowledge of complex earth systems is still rather rudimentary. Huge areas of our planet are inaccessible and are little known scientifically. There is still also much to learn from reading the rock record of how our planet functioned in the past.
In so many areas, we simply don’t know enough of how our planet functions.
And yet……
What is patently obvious from reviewing Canada’s ancient history is that scientists still do not have an adequate understanding of Earth’s complex systems on which to base sound economic and environmental policy. From the upper reaches of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans onwards to the deep interior of the planet our knowledge of complex earth systems is still rather rudimentary. Huge areas of our planet are inaccessible and are little known scientifically. There is still also much to learn from reading the rock record of how our planet functioned in the past.
In so many areas, we simply don’t know enough of how our planet functions.
And yet……
geosociety.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/the-constancy-of-change-and-the-new-catastrophism-a-personal-reflection-on-crisis-driven-science/
