Peter Doherty on hot air
[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 1, No. 18
12 - 26 November 2007 ]
Climate change presents a real danger but there are a lot of good ideas with which science can help us deal with global warming.
Professor Peter Doherty, Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne, recently published his second non-fiction book designed to amuse and educate lay readers. In A light history of hot air (Melbourne University Publishing) Professor Doherty signals a warning about the need for action on climate change. He speaks here to University of Melbourne Voice acting Literary and Arts Editor Amanda Tattam.
Q What inspired you to write a book like this?
A The topic of ‘hot air’ opens all sorts of possibilities for being totally irresponsible and having a lot of fun. There’s hot air balloons, political hot air and steam trains and ships and soaring eagles. The topic has allowed me a lot of latitude.
Seriously, my work in influenza means that I’m travelling more in Asia. I am appalled at the air pollution in a lot of countries like China, India and Bangkok. They are beautiful scenic places and you can barely see because of the poor air quality.
Q Are you trying to influence people’s thinking about climate change?
A It is my own exploration about climate change. I’m trying to get people to think about evidence-based reality and not be seduced by fantasy. It’s part of all our lives (fantasy) but it’s important with some issues that we deal with the reality.
A constant theme in the book is burning – of coal, oil, rushes, candles – which have really transformed our lives, but now there is a price to pay and we need to do something about it.
Q Are there any good ideas in science that you believe could solve intractable problems, but are being ignored by politicians?
A There are a whole lot of good ideas out there to try to deal with global warming. The journal Science had an issue earlier this year that explored 10 or so totally different technologies that are involved in producing clean energy or cleaning up carbon dioxide from coal-fired plants.
What makes me sad is that we have been missing the boat in Australia and putting more emphasis on fossil fuels than on renewables where we have enormous potential. Until very recently, our Federal Government has made every wrong decision. I don’t know if I believe Howard is a reformed climate changer.
Q You write about the positive influence of some teachers on your early school years. What can be done to improve science literacy in adults and children?
A Good teachers are enormously important and they need to have a curriculum where they can actually teach properly. We see kids coming through who are passionate about chemistry and science, but they have to get the good marks to get there.
One thing that really upsets me is pouring money into private schools and starving public schools of funds, because some of our best scientists come from public schools. It has always been the case that a lot of the people who do well in science come from poorer families.
Science is totally meritocratic. The population is not resistant to learning more about science – but you have to engage people – they are interested in invention and originality and things that improve their lives. Women read medical stories. People will read things they are interested in. Stuff that is animated – videos and so forth – can explain science very well.
Q You say in the book “We are consuming the future and it’s up to us to develop and use renewable resources”. Which renewable resources?
A Solar, wind and deep geothermal. There are all sorts of other possibilities. Generating hydrogen from algae. There is some carbon capture sequestration work which involves producing hydrogen from coal. There is also discussion of using algae to capture carbon.
It is probably inevitable that there is more nuclear power in the Northern Hemisphere. I’m not totally convinced we need it in Australia. Germany has rejected nuclear power and gone for solar and Spain is putting a lot of effort into solar. Denmark has chosen wind power.
Q What is the significance of hot air?
A Everything is about hot air. Political and in the atmosphere. We are in real danger. The recent CSIRO report suggests that temperatures could rise as much as five degrees by 2070. The ice is melting much more quickly than anyone expected. The Himalayas are melting very fast. We are now talking about the Arctic being ice-free by 2030.
Q What does the University of Melbourne give you as a senior researcher?
A It’s collegiate. People work extremely well together. I like city universities that are tight and crowded on a small campus. Melbourne is clearly Australia’s best medical research city, with some strong institutions.
The University is going in a good direction by creating a more general undergraduate degree. The Melbourne Model is an excellent model. The liberal arts and humanities have to be the core of any university. We tend to divide ourselves into a literary culture and a science culture and I think that division is kind of silly.
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