Posted on 06/26/2006 6:59:40 PM PDT by John Lenin
First of all, I think you're trying to make an argument that's inconsquential. (Had the petition said that it was signed by scientists, engineers, and doctors, who would even worry about it?)
If I was to attempt a distinction, I would say that a scientist generally conducts open-ended, inquiry-driven, research, meaning that the outcome is uncertain. (That's what experiments are for.) Engineers generally apply established concepts (sometimes in novel ways) to achieve a desired/designed outcome. Now, to address your other question, if you've conducted Ph.D. level research in any field, you're a scientist.
To put it simply, a scientist's main job is research. A working engineer is not usually doing an activity defined as research, though admittedly "research" has several meanings.
Who makes up the bulk of the climate science community?
People who do climate science research. The IPCC is a subset, and only about 1/3 of the IPCC are climate scientists. They've got economic and policy divisions, too.
Yes. Cloud feedbacks could be strong enough to cause cooling (which would mediate the warming at a new equilibrium point).
How can that be the earth? The earth is flat, you know!
Bump!
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