[“Here on this table [pictured] you’ve heard opinions which didn’t agree, and we’re all claiming to be scientists. So, to what extent political leaders can believe us is not obvious.” (Professor Dr. Jack Steinberger, CERN - Europäisches Kernforschungszentrum, joint-Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, 1988, for the discovery of a new neutrino called the muon neutrino, speaking on July 1 during the 58th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting’s Panel Discussion on ‘Climate Changes and Energy Challenges’)]

I cannot recommend too highly the following Panel Discussion [11.15 am - 12.45 pm, Tuesday, July 1; link below] on ‘Climate Changes and Energy Challenges’, streamed directly from the 58th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting: Physics, which is being held between June 29 and July 4 at the island town of Lindau on Lake Constance. The Nobel Laureates involved in this Panel are the following seven Professors: Johann Deisenhofer (Germany: Chemistry, 1988); Ivar Giaever (Norway: Physics, 1973); Hartmut Michel (Germany: Chemistry, 1988); Douglas Osheroff (USA: Physics, 1996); Carlo Rubbia (Italy: Physics, 1984); Jack Steinberger (Germany: Physics, 1988); and Klaus von Klitzing (Germany: Physics, 1985). The Chair of the Panel is Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The absence of any women members is a tad concerning.

As you will witness, the discussion is a particularly good example of how serious scientists disagree, how they call for more research, and how they are wary of the relationship between science and politics. You should listen especially for comments from Professors Steinberger [quoted above] and von Klitzing in this respect. I think you will also greatly enjoy hearing the Norwegian, Professor Giaever, being critical - to some applause, I might add - of his fellow countrymen for having presented Al Gore with the Nobel Peace Prize. He admits that he hates to say something bad about Norway, but he must still sharply disagree with his country for allowing Al Gore to pick up the Prize [see: ‘An IgNobel Prize’, October 13]. You will further note that biofuels receive an especially fierce drubbing.

The Video

I recommend that you set an hour-and-a-half aside to watch the whole debate. Even with some of the panel moderately sympathetic to the possible problems of ‘global warming’, you will observe that there is no way that the science can be regarded as ‘settled’, and that there are absolutely no easy, agreed solutions (“There are no magic bullets”, in the words of one of the Laureates).

The full video of the Panel Discussion is available here: Nobel Laureate Meetings at Lindau: Panel Discussion: Physics: ‘Climate Changes and Energy Challenges’. The video should start automatically in a new window, and the precise length is 92 minutes 24 seconds. You will need Adobe Flash Player in order to view it

This is a wonderful chance to deconstruct some famous scientists in discussion.

Then, if you have a moment, you might care to contrast this discussion with the mind-blowing vapidity of David Cameron, the UK Conservative Leader, who was given space today in The Times to attempt to reply to the call by the newspaper to make clear what his party actually stands for: ‘The Conservatives have a plan and we can make it work’ (The Times, June 3).

Some plan! I need a triple espresso! But do enjoy the scientists.