first idea from me -
quote the comment from Anthony Watts and Lucia Liljegren where they state they will attend (has Lucia stated this ?)
then make sure/hammer home the "financed by contributions from his/her blog commentaters, no BIG OIL/COAL/GAS etc... involved'

"to attend lectures by his bitterest enemies" don't use that, could make suggestions but will leave that to others better placed.

Nothing. Mann and his cronies have been effectively side-lined by mainstream science, and we should not give them the oxygen of publicity - do not promote them to the position of prime enemy - they are not important, and in time will be written into the history of science along with Piltdown Man.

First response - I dunno. But to throw a few ideas out there...

Perhaps Channel 4 would be an interesting avenue? They don't stick to the warmist side all the time. Perhaps Jon Snow might like to try and take on Anthony - one tv guy against another :-D

Alternatively perhaps one of those Sunday discussion progs? Or could Anfrew Neil interview him?

Hi Geoff

Several years ago I attended a climate conference at Southampton Unoversity given by dr Iain Stewart of climate wars fame.

A couple of months ago I attended a climate conference at Exeter university with numerous ipcc reviewers including Thomas Stocker and Richard Betts, the latter of which I managed to talk to

At both events I asked sceptical questions but it's all fairly controlled and did not lead to any meaningful debate.Unless Anthony has got inside information or a specific objective in mind I am not sure what he hopes to achieve by attending the Bristol University event.

IMHO the greater effort should be put into organising a UK sceptics conference in Bristol. At it each sceptic Could outline their area of expertise and interest and we could draw up a few strategies so we can move forward in a more organised and concerted manner than at present. We are a disorganised bunch on the whole and need to get our act together.

I could possibly arrange a meeting at the Met office which is geographically close to me and who I have found to be more open than we give them credit for.

As I say, Anthony or you may be privy to more information than I am aware of but I would certainly attend a sceptics conference if it was to be meaningful and include Business as well as a social aspect.

Tonyb

If the mainstream media don't pick up on this it would be a crime if sceptics don't take the opportunity, say, to get a little film out of it at least. What's Topher Field up to in September? Certainly everyone going should be ready with their smartphones.

Start thinking like journalists: what is the story here?

"Mann comes to talk at Bristol Uni and might face a question from Anthony Watts"

I'm not sure there's anything there. You have to generate something newsworthy (i.e., spin it), otherwise there won't be anything. I'm not sure Mann's presence in the UK would generate any interest. Unless the Bristol Uni PR people can spin something. But how many times do you here stories based on an event like this? I'm not sure there are many.

Perhaps if Mann and Watts were going head to head in a guaranteed, more formal event. Someone could take the opportunity to stage a debate with some other heavyweights while they're both here and generate some publicity around that.

Make it fun and funky, with some WWF-style marketing. I'm only half joking...

... I guess the point is that Mann vs Watts in themselves aren't enough to generate media coverage, especially if the face-off might only happen and only for a few minutes.

But if you can use them as the starting point to develop a bigger event, which in itself is unusual/newsworthy, then you might be on to something. Perhaps taking the debate out of government/academic circles and somewhere more lively. Stage it somewhere 'cool', get some kind of online live stream or interactive element, lots of social media etc etc.

But it would depend on the tone of the coverage/debate you were after. The minutiae of historical research aren't going to get much of a following.

The Cabot Institute seemed to promise Mann, Lewandowsky and Oreskes on one bill in September. I do not see her listed on the events for the 19th or the 23rd of September. Is there yet another show?

Geoff

My point was that a meeting whereby someone might ask someone else one question before it is moved on, is not a matter of great interest to most sceptics let alone the media.(unless something much more spectacular than I know of has been planned)

My point was that this event could be the focus of a meeting of sceptics that might have far greater impact in the longer term. Its about time we all met up in a more formal atmosphere than blogs and carried out some planning instead of our usual uncoordinated ad hoc efforts to deflate the warmist bubble.

Would I come the 100 miles (and stay overnight) to watch a stage managed event such as this? No.

Would I come to participate in some more meaningful mini conference that might be the catalyst for something bigger and might be the PR peg on which to hang our hat? Yes

tonyb

Thanks Richard

It seems to me that we have a good opportunity to meet up at a very accessible place, talk hopefully to Anthony and Lucia and also put together some sort of strategy (ranging from formal to highly informal) for the future based on our various skills and interests. In addition,being able to put a face to the name is always useful and would result in informal networking as well as any more overarching contacts. It might also create some PR.

As I say, I am not privy to any more fundamental reason to Anthony coming over other than putting a question to someone who might or might not answer it. Consequently there might already be wheels within wheels that I am not aware of. If there aren't these wheels however it just seems this is a bit of a wasted opportunity

tonyb

Perhaps we should turn the difficulty of getting the media interested into an advantage. Bob Ward, Chris Mooney, George Monbiot etc., are always complaining about the immense sway sceptics have over the media e.g

Who Created the Global Warming "Pause"?
How climate skeptics and the media—with a little inadvertent help from scientists themselves—forged a misleading narrative.
—Chris Mooney on Mon. October 7, 2013 12:43 PM PDTb

------------------

When climate change denial is promoted in mainstream news
--Including articles and comments from figures such as Matthew Ridley and Nigel Lawson without balance misleads the British public.
--BY BOB WARD PUBLISHED 20 AUGUST, 2014 - 14:25

When in fact, as the above shows, getting media attention is, 97% of the time, a no go. So, approach it from a parody angle - a short documentary following Anthony Watts et al's arrival as if they're coming over here with immense clout and power to corrupt our media which will obviously be undercut by the fact that there's virtually no coverage whatsoever in reality.

So have any actual plans been made for a meeting anywhere prior to/post these meetings in Bristol? I've seen a lot of interest expressed, but no definite plans - or have I missed something somewhere? I am definitely going to the Mann and Mann/Cook talks, but would really like to meet up with fellow-sceptics as well.

Is there any further news on Anthony Watts' and Lucia Liljegren's plans while here? (I've been away for a month, and only skimming blogs)

OK, so now it is only 5 days till the first talk here in Bristol; are any BHers coming along to it or the one next tue? I will be there, and would appreciate some sceptic company, having endured the Lew talk on my own.

Please respond to this thread if you are able and willing to go, and would like to meet up for mutual support,

thanks, Caroline

Hi Caroline - Anthony Watts has a front row seat ;-)

I'm coming too