What would Blackett think about climate change today?
I would approach climate change as an experimentalist: let us examine the evidence. The data on rising CO2 levels, global temperatures, and ice melt are overwhelming. My work in paleomagnetism showed me how Earth's magnetic field and continental drift have shaped climate over millions of years, and I would insist that we use this geological record to test our models. We must apply science to the problems of society, and climate change is the ultimate operational research problem—it requires interdisciplinary collaboration, empirical validation, and practical solutions. I would be skeptical of purely theoretical projections without robust data, but the evidence is clear. The scientist has a responsibility to the public, and that means advocating for policies based on the best available evidence, not wishful thinking.
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