Symphony of Science - Our Biggest Challenge
Posted on 16 September 2012 by dana1981
A terrific musical investigation into the causes and effects of global climate change and our opportunities to use science to offset it. Featuring Bill Nye, David Attenborough, Richard Alley and Isaac Asimov. "Our Biggest Challenge" is the 16th episode of the Symphony of Science series by melodysheep.
Visit http://symphonyofscience.com for more science remixes

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Shared to Facebook, and to my email list...thanks a heap!
In the meantime, in the real world we move forward.
I think 'the problems that attack us' slogan was used for a good reason. The nature of homo sapiens mind is to fight (or self-defend) against visible agressor. When there is an identifiable agressor, there is mobilisation and action. that's why people were able to overcome WWII and later the communism (in Easter Europe). The enemy was visible and well identified.
On the other hand CO2 is so invisible that most people are confused because they don't know who they are fighting with. Even those who are supposed to be intelligent enough to well understand the problem (e.g. REP party including their presidential candidate) are confused, and the knee-jerk denial (no visible enemy) myotatic response overides the rational thinking by the cortex.
That's why the existence of enemy must be constantly reminded by such slogans so that people like Romney will finally start "feeling it".
Chriskoz - I think you are on to something interesting there.
This video is an excellent example of in-group communication - it communicates powerfully to people who already accept its message it contains. It forms a mechanism for social bonding, motivation and worldview reinforcement within our group. I'm guessing however that it wouldn't make much impression with out-group members - those who reject the message.
By contrast, outgroup communication is communication directed at people with a different worldview or social network. It can be for collaboration, proselytization, or even conflict. To communicate to out-group members you generally have to identify their worldview (Lewandowsky uses the term 'mental model' here), and communicate using the signs, symbols and narratives of that worldview, although other strategies are possible.
The fact that we find this video compelling says nothing about whether it is effective for outgroup communication. The effectiveness of a messaging technique for outgroup communication is something which has to be raised with every effort at communication - and can't be judged by in-group members, except sometime by those who are gifted at thinking outside their own worldview. There will normally be multiple outgroups, and strata within those groups - for example some climate skeptics regard themselves as science-sympathetic, whereas others are simple hostile to science.
Interesting question: What are the target worldviews of SkS, ETOM, Potholer54, Tamino, Climate Crocks and other resources? How effectively do they communicate to those worldviews.
I spend a LOT of time thinking how to bridge that gap, because long, *long* ago I tired of the "ultimate test of manhood"** that this dialogue can become/has become.
**imagine, if you will, two big burly he-man types, facing one another, holding onto the others' shoulders, then *kicking* the living crap out of each other's left shin. That's what I mean!