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They defend the science. But who defends the scientists?

A storm dumped over 3 feet of hail in parts of Guadalajara, Mexico last weekend. Where do you turn for answers if your question is, why?

Many of us would think to consult scientists. But attacks on science are becoming more common these days. Skeptics refute scientific evidence concerning climate change, evolution, the safety of vaccines and even the curvature of the earth.

Author Lee McIntyre is a philosopher of science. He has devoted much of his work to exploring how science works, in success and failure, why some people mistrust it and the danger that lies therein. His latest book is “The Scientific Attitude: Defending Science from Denial, Fraud, and Pseudoscience.”

McIntyre is a research fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and an instructor in ethics at Harvard Extension School.

Town Hall Seattle presented his talk on June 3 as part of their Science Series. KUOW’s Sonya Harris recorded the event.

Why you can trust KUOW