The CSIRO’s representative union body, the CSIRO Staff Association, supports Science and Technology Australia’s (STA) Respect the Science campaign.

‘We are more interested in explaining what the science is about, rather than lobbying,’ says Dr Michael Borgas, president of the CSIRO Staff Association.

‘There is a certain amount of disrespect levelled towards scientists in the climate change debate. Scientists have had run-ins with political forces that oppose [the idea of] climate change. We are here to advocate the integrity of CSIRO scientists. We will defend any attacks and defend the integrity of CSIRO.

‘Our role is advocacy around the science of climate change. We need to make sure that the science maintains its integrity to protect it against the attacks. We don’t run policy prescriptive lines. We report the facts and avoid outlining social solutions. However, we do have strong support among our members for [environmental] advocacy groups.

‘As part of the Respect The Science campaign, we organised activities such as distributing leaflets explaining the science when Lord Monckton, Lord Lawson and Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, spoke in Melbourne,’ says Dr Borgas.

An STA survey found overwhelming public interest in climate change. Dr Borgas says scientists are engaging in a more public way on the issue.

‘We are keen on opening up the science to the public,’ he says.

For more information, visit
http://respectthescience.org.au/

(extract from Ecos magazine – www.ecosmagazine.com/)