Science Debate 2008 – Not yet available in Canada

Just this past week, John McCain finally answered all the 14 questions about science asked at ScienceDebate2008. Obama answered them in August. Now, the two are posted online at ScienceDebate’s website, and it is well worth a read.

However, as probably a few people are aware, Canada is also having an election this fall. It’s not as sexy or important as the US election, but I think the leader of my country is important. So does my mom.

One of the things I would love to see happen is a science debate in Canada. We have already heard a lot about the environment, carbon taxes and the Liberal “Green Shift” campaign.

Of course, no one is talking about science in this election. Which reminds me of a lecture last year given by Ken Coates, the University of Waterloo’s Dean of Arts. In it he said that a lot of the most interesting technological and social developments are happening overseas (in Japan specifically), then go on their world tour, with big stops in Europe and the United States.

Unfortunately, Canada is the last stop on that world tour. And, as Canadians we just get used to a familiar phrase when watching American television shows online, using new cell phone features, or getting the best and newest gadgets: Not yet available in Canada.

And, I guess a public discourse on science is also not yet available in Canada.

Environmental Trade-offs: Those Cute and Curly Light Bulbs

When we moved from the lake to our new house in the country, one of the first things I did was go around and change over every light bulb in the place to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLS). CFLs look like a Dr. Seussian solution to lighting, but in reality they are taking a big bite out of electricity use. They are very energy efficient, and are a perfect example of real world green technology that is here right now.

They do have one drawback, which is the Whoville sized amounts of mercury that makes those cute little puppies tick (or glow as the case may be). I recently wrote an article for Environmental Health Perspectives about efforts to understand the mercury in CFLS and better ways to capture it in case bulbs break.

Long and the curly of it, open a window and leave the room where the CFL breaks. When you come back pick up everything you can and put it in a glass jar (plastic bags leak mercury), plus try to have kids or pregnant women avoid the room.