An Open Letter to Bob Walker, Senior Trump Advisor

Dear Mr. Walker,

Similar to many American Earth scientists on the day before Thanksgiving, I spent a bit of time perusing my news feeds and drinking coffee. Many of us read the Guardian article, “Trump to scrap Nasa climate research in crackdown on ‘politicized science’”. Many of us read the critical words “politically correct environmental monitoring” or “Earth-centric science”. Many of us work for Nasa, although I personally do not. I just have their swag.

The thing is, Mr. Walker, I get where you are coming from. I really do. I see how the agendas of the atmosphere and the global ocean conflict with the coherent platform of the Trump Administration. I see how science could be bent, broken over, in service to the greater good — in service of, obviously, making things great again. Most importantly, I see how un-great our atmosphere is right now.

And you are right. Observing Earth is not the same as exploring deep space. Granted, the exploration of deep sea hydrothermal vents revolutionized our assessment of where Life (and I mean capitol L Life) could obtain energy from. And our assessment of the potential for Life elsewhere in the Universe does come directly from measuring and describing our collective, personal Goldilocks Zone. But this is hair-splitting.

Here is the problem. No amount of defunding Earth science will stop you from living on, and being a part of, this one finite planet we all share. No budget cuts will prevent you and your children, your community, your state and your nation from being at risk to the threats of extreme weather, water insecurity, geopolitical and food system destabilization, and the awful moral quagmire of climate commitment.

Another thing that comes up is this: you will not stop anyone from documenting the onslaught of climate warming. You will only get in the way of our ability to reduce risk and reduce cost. Because, here is the thing: no one on this planet is untouched by climate change. No business, no municipality. No nation state. And every gardener or farmer, every disease epidemiologist, or transportation engineer or fisherman — we all have to work and adapt under a changing climate. We are already adapting.

Here is what I want to really impress upon you, Mr. Walker. Your ideas about the way science works are bankrupt. You cannot draw lines around the science that is palatable to you. You cannot stop the bright light of scientific inquiry. You will not stop scientists.

Please, Mr. Walker, join us. Let us explore this world and our place in the Universe together. More than ever, we need Science to guide our collective trajectory on this beautiful, finite, and imperiled planet we all share.

That’s what leadership is for.

Warmly,

Sarah E. Myhre Ph.D.

(Happy Thanksgiving!)