Orcas Currents started with a truly cosmic bang last year with an astronaut discussing possible asteroid collisions with Earth. Currents, a series of public lectures, seminars and workshops, was born out of Michael Riordan’s desire to have have science-based lectures by experts and open to everyone.
“We have good, authoritative speakers right here in the islands, so why not showcase them,” he said. “We indeed intend to do just that as part of the Orcas Currents events.”
The Currents steering committee, made up of Riordan, Bob Dash, Roger Sherman and Greg Ayers, decided to offer free admission then find a line-up of innovative speakers. This year’s lecture series covers climate change, how seeds changed the world and the sea floor.
The season will start with a lecture by science historian and Harvard professorNaomi Oreskes, entitled “Why Should We Trust Climate Science?” at 4 p.m. at the Orcas Island Community Church on March 15. The Orcas Island High School Environment Club will host a reception at the church. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. The event is cosponsored by Orcas Island Pubic Library, Friends of the San Juans and Coates Vineyards.
Oreskes earned a doctorate from Stanford University in the history of science, specializing in earth and environmental sciences. Before coming to Harvard in 2013, she served as professor of history and science studies at the University of California, San Diego, examining the history of plate tectonics and the theory of continental drift. Oreskes’ articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Nature and Science. Her book “Merchants of Doubt” won the Watson-Davis Prize of the History of Science Society.
“Merchants of Doubt” reveals how a small, industry-financed group of spin-doctors has been repeatedly trying to muddle the public discourse on phenomena ranging from tobacco smoke to climate change. She will discuss how those individuals manipulate people to believe that climate change should be doubted.
“They know how to talk to the press to make climate change sound like more of a controversy than there is,” said Riordan.
Oreskes will also use examples throughout history to show that burning fossil fuels is the primary cause of climate change.
“That’s what her real specialty is – she is one of the two principle historians of science that are paying attention to what’s going on,” said Riordan.
This March SONY Pictures is releasing a feature-length documentary, “Merchants of Doubt,” inspired by the book and starring Oreskes.
“When we organized this last April we knew we were getting a best-selling author,” said Riordan. “Now we’ve got a movie star.”
Upcoming Orcas Currents lectures
• Thursday, May 14: Thor Hansen on “The Triumph of Seeds”
• Thursday, June 11: Gary Greene on “The Sea Floor Around Us.”
