Science Cafe: Policy from the Pulpit? Influences on Climate Change Skepticism

Climate change action is one of the most urgent questions we face. What influences public opinion on this issue? Recent research has shown that religious affiliation is not a consistent predictor for climate change skepticism. The exception to this rule is evangelical protestants who consistently poll as more skeptical than the general population. Do local evangelical ministers fit the trend of this larger demographic, or is there more to the story? Join Buddy Stark (Ph.D. student with the Mallinson Institute for Science Education at Western Michigan University) to discuss how the belief structures leading to skepticism among evangelicals are more complex than we might predict. We'll consider what approaches might be useful in moving us all forward.
Buddy Stark is the planetarium manager at the U-M Museum of Natural History.