Organizers defended their invitation of James Taylor, a fellow at the right-wing Heartland Institute, as necessary for learning how opponents of climate science frame their arguments.
"It's like having a debate on gun control and not inviting the NRA," said Alejandro Alvarado, an associate professor at FIU and co-organizer of the event. "The keyword here is workshop. This is not a science forum. It is a workshop."
The event, scheduled the night before a daylong series of lectures, is billed as a "conversation" between Taylor and local climate activist Greg Hamra of the Citizens' Climate Lobby.
Local environmentalists, including some workshop speakers, bristled at the invitation, saying it perpetuates the false equivalence that leads some reporters to give equal weight to climate scientists and people who deny their findings.
Others are keeping an open mind that the event could be a useful demonstration of how to debunk climate deniers' talking points.
"Given that climate science deniers now occupy the highest positions in the U.S. government, it's important that these positions be publicly exposed for what they are," FIU professor David Bray said. "These are not rational arguments to be had" (Alex Harris, Miami Herald, March 21). — AAA