Spencer Weart's guest appearances

Spencer Weart

Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy

Hear This Idea

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Isabelle Boemeke

Bob Walker

Rauli Partanen

Jason Crawford

Gerry Thomas

Arun Khuttan

Michael Shellenberger

Kalev Kallemets

Bret Kugelmass

Rod Adams

Mark Nelson

Gillian Hadfield

David Frum

Tom Jones

Matt Yglesias

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Dr Spencer R. Weart served as the Director of the Center for History of Physics at the American Institute of Physics from 1974 to 2009. He is the author of several books, including The Discovery of Global Warming and The Rise of Nuclear Fear. In our conversation, we discuss:  How climate science emerged, what it took for scientists to form a consensus in the mid-1960s, and how that consensus has evolved since The IPCC’s emerging understanding of so-called “tipping points” in the climate system, and our current best guesses as to what kind of threat they pose Exploring the changing cultural relationship humans have had with nuclear energy — and why it remains stigmatised amongst many environmental groups  You can read more about the topics we cover in this episode's write-up: hearthisidea.com/episodes/weart If you have any feedback or suggestions for future guests, feel free to get in touch through our website. Consider leaving us a review wherever you're listening to this — it's the best free way to support the show. If you want to support the show more directly, consider leaving a tip. Thanks for listening!

Dr <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_R._Weart" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spencer R. Weart</a> served as the Director of the <a href="https://www.aip.org/history-programs/physics-history" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Center for History of Physics</a> at the <a href="https://www.aip.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">American Institute of Physics</a> from 1974 to 2009. He is the author of several books, including <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78687.The_Discovery_of_Global_Warming" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Discovery of Global Warming</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13601839-the-rise-of-nuclear-fear" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Rise of Nuclear Fear</a>. In our conversation, we discuss: <ul> <li>How climate science emerged, what it took for scientists to form a consensus in the mid-1960s, and how that consensus has evolved since</li> <li>The IPCC’s emerging understanding of so-called “tipping points” in the climate system, and our current best guesses as to what kind of threat they pose</li> <li>Exploring the changing cultural relationship humans have had with nuclear energy — and why it remains stigmatised amongst many environmental groups</li> </ul> You can read more about the topics we cover in this episode's write-up: <a href="https://hearthisidea.com/episodes/weart" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hearthisidea.com/episodes/weart</a> If you have any feedback or suggestions for future guests, feel free to get in touch through our <a href="https://hearthisidea.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Consider leaving us a review wherever you're listening to this — it's the best free way to support the show. If you want to support the show more directly, consider <a href="https://hearthisidea.com/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">leaving a tip</a>. Thanks for listening!

#48 – Spencer Weart on the Discovery of Global Warming

Is part of our rejection of expertise, distrust of science and weaponization of the precautionary principle tied to how suicidally close we came to mutually assured destruction during the cold war? What are the cultural drivers that have led the modern left to reject nuclear energy? How did we come to exaggerate the potential harms from a nuclear accident to biblical proportions? How is the idea of nuclear apocalypse different from climate apocalypse in terms of its imagery and cultural framing? I am joined by Spencer Weart the retired director of the Center for History of Physics for the American Institute of Physics to answer these questions. Spencer holds a Ph.D. in physics and astrophysics and has devoted much of his career to working as a historian of science. He is the author of a number of books including “The Rise of Nuclear Fear.” 

Is part of our rejection of expertise, distrust of science and weaponization of the precautionary principle tied to how suicidally close we came to mutually assured destruction during the cold war? What are the cultural drivers that have led the modern left to reject nuclear energy? How did we come to exaggerate the potential harms from a nuclear accident to biblical proportions? How is the idea of nuclear apocalypse different from climate apocalypse in terms of its imagery and cultural framing? I am joined by Spencer Weart the retired director of the Center for History of Physics for the American Institute of Physics to answer these questions. Spencer holds a Ph.D. in physics and astrophysics and has devoted much of his career to working as a historian of science. He is the author of a number of books including “The Rise of Nuclear Fear.”

The Rise of Nuclear Fear feat. Spencer Weart

Episode Content:   Spencer's start studying the history of science at the American Institute of Physics.     Unraveling the origin of the French Nuclear Program.     The intersection of nuclear fear and politics.     The role of psychology in understanding public reluctance towards nuclear energy.     The interaction between carbon dioxide and oceans; the significance of climate change.     A discussion of the race between technology and the evolution of human morality.     How nuclear imagery can affect our perception of nuclear energy.     The importance of political culture in the international sphere.     The outlook of nuclear energy, moving forward.    

Episode Content: <ul> <li> Spencer's start studying the history of science at the American Institute of Physics.   </li> <li> Unraveling the origin of the French Nuclear Program.   </li> <li> The intersection of nuclear fear and politics.   </li> <li> The role of psychology in understanding public reluctance towards nuclear energy.   </li> <li> The interaction between carbon dioxide and oceans; the significance of climate change.   </li> <li> A discussion of the race between technology and the evolution of human morality.   </li> <li> How nuclear imagery can affect our perception of nuclear energy.   </li> <li> The importance of political culture in the international sphere.   </li> <li> The outlook of nuclear energy, moving forward.   </li> </ul>

Ep 35: Spencer Weart, The Rise of Nuclear Fear