John Abraham (engineer)

John P. Abraham is a professor of thermal sciences at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, Minnesota in the United States of America.

John P. Abraham
Alma materPh.D. 2002, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota[1]
Known forGlobal warming debate (Climate Science Rapid Response Team)
AwardsNCSE Friend of the Planet Award[2]
Scientific career
FieldsThermodynamics, heat flow, numerical simulation, energy
InstitutionsLos Alamos National Laboratory
University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, Minnesota (Associate Prof.)[1]
ThesisA comprehensive experimental, analytical, and numerical investigation of the modes of heat transfer in an electrically heated oven (2002)
Websitehttp://www.stthomas.edu/engineering/faculty/john-p-abraham.html

In 2009 he started to analyze misrepresentations being used to promote climate change denial, and from 2010 became a prominent defender of science in the global warming controversy. In that year, he helped to launch the Climate Science Rapid Response Team.

Career

Abraham is professor of thermal and fluid sciences at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, Minnesota.[1][3] His area of research includes thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid flow, numerical simulation, and energy. After gaining his doctorate at the University of Minnesota in 2002, he joined St. Thomas as an adjunct instructor, later becoming a full-time member of the faculty. He has published over 200 papers in journals and conferences, and since 1997 has also been an engineering consultant working on industrial research in aerospace, biomedical, energy and manufacturing industries. He works on clean and renewable wind and solar projects in the developing world, and has also produced numerous books, such as a 2014 text on small-scale wind power[4] and a 2010 groundbreaking text on laminar-to-turbulent fluid flow.[5][6][7]

Refutation of climate change denial

Abraham felt it was necessary to respond to a talk given to the Minnesota Free Market Institute in October 2009 by a well-known denier of human-caused global warming,[8] Christopher Monckton. He thought "this guy is a great speaker and he is very convincing. If I didn’t know the science, I would believe him. Frankly, the nonscientists in the audience didn’t have a chance. They had no way of knowing what he said was not true. I felt Monckton took advantage of them and he knew he was taking advantage of them." In the following months he carried out research, contacting scientists cited by Monckton, and in late May 2010, he posted online an 83-minute video rebutting Monckton's statements. This attracted little attention at first, until it was highlighted by an article George Monbiot published in The Guardian.[6][9][10]

Abraham's presentation and the response from Monckton[11] subsequently received world-wide attention.[12][13][14][15][16][17] More recently, Abraham and a number of colleagues including Michael E. Mann submitted a document to the United States Congress which set out to refute nine errors in Christopher Monckton's May 6, 2010, testimony.[18][19][20][21]

In November 2010, Abraham (and two colleagues, Professor Scott Mandia and Dr. Ray Weymann) launched the Climate Science Rapid Response Team, to provide rapid, high-quality scientific information to the media and government decision makers. The intention of this group is to enable scientists to share their work directly with the general public. This effort has been covered by many media outlets.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] The effort has an online page for media to submit their questions.[34]

Abraham estimated early in 2012 that since beginning his rebuttal he had put around 1,000 unpaid hours into work on climate change and the controversy. He has given numerous speeches to publicize global warming issues, but does not accept funding for climate research or ask for an honorarium for speeches: if payment is given he asks that it goes to St. Thomas or to charity.[6]

References
  1. University of St. Thomas : School of Engineering : John P. Abraham, Ph.D Archived May 21, 2010, at WebCite
  2. https://ncse.com/about/friend-of-planet
  3. University of St. Thomas : School of Engineering Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  4. https://www.amazon.com/Small-Scale-Wind-Power-Environmental-Engineering-ebook/dp/B00LQZ59UY
  5. John P. Abraham, University of St. Thomas, MN Archived May 21, 2010, at WebCite
  6. Winterer, Jim (Winter 2012). "John Abraham Takes a Stand". St. Thomas Magazine. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  7. https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32244&osCsid=fe6438e821a248cdd0b8479b10443247
  8. Michael E. Mann: The Hockey-Stick and the Climate Wars. Columbia University Press, 2012, p. 71.
  9. Abraham presentation Archived July 23, 2010, at WebCite
  10. Abraham, John (3 June 2010). "Monckton takes scientist to brink of madness at climate change talk". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010.
    George Monbiot (3 June 2010), Viscount Monckton, another fallen idol of climate denial/Professor John Abraham's withering scrutiny reveals how the gurus of climate scepticism repeat a pattern of manipulation, London: The Guardian, archived from the original on 3 June 2010
  11. Monckton's response to John Abraham (PDF)
  12. George Monbiot (14 July 2010), Monckton's response to John Abraham is magnificently bonkers/Monckton fails to provide a convincing refutation of Abraham's criticisms but does throw a great deal of dust into the air, London: The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 July 2010
  13. Casey Selix (Jul 19, 2010), St. Thomas Prof. John Abraham in royal smackdown with global-warming denier Christopher Monckton, MinnPost.com, archived from the original on February 15, 2011
  14. Bill McAuliffe (July 22, 2010), Climate discussion heats up on the Web/A St. Thomas professor's response to a British climate change skeptic has bloggers and others all fired up, Star Tribune, archived from the original on July 23, 2010, retrieved 2010-10-19
  15. UST in the news « Bulletin Today Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  16. Monckton tries to censor John Abraham Archived July 15, 2010, at WebCite
  17. MN professor eviscerates Monckton in must-see video « Climate Progress Archived June 2, 2010, at WebCite
  18. Climate scientists eviscerate Lord Monckton’s attempt to disinform the U.S. Congress « Climate Progress Archived September 25, 2010, at WebCite
  19. http://www.skepticalscience.com/Monckton_Press_Release.pdf
  20. Leo Hickman (21 September 2010), 'Chemical nonsense': Leading scientists refute Lord Monckton's attack on climate science, London: The Guardian, archived from the original on 22 September 2010
  21. Climate scientists respond to Monckton's misinformation Archived September 22, 2010, at WebCite
  22. Banerjee, Neela (8 November 2010). "Climate scientists plan campaign against global warming skeptics". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 15 February 2011.
  23. Abraham, John (8 November 2010). "Scientists have a duty to engage with the public on climate change". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
  24. Scientists agree that when the climate needs them, they'll speak up | Commentary | Minnesota Public Radio News Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  25. Climate scientists prepare to take the fight to skeptical politicians | StarTribune.com Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  26. UST in the news « Bulletin Today Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  27. Corner, Adam (23 November 2010). "Climate change scepticism is about more than just science". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
  28. Goldenberg, Suzanne (22 November 2010). "US climate scientists fight back after year of scepticism". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
  29. Richard Littlemore | Scientists throw mainstream media a lifeline Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  30. Climate rapid response communications team gears up « Climate Progress Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  31. Climate Change: The Next Generation: John Abraham, Ray Weymann and Scott Mandia launch Climate Science Rapid Response Team (CSRRT) website for inquiries concerning the science... Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  32. November « 2010 « Global Warming: Man or Myth? Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  33. John Abraham and Scott Mandia - Climate Science Strikes Back | Point of Inquiry Archived February 15, 2011, at WebCite
  34. Climate Science Rapid Response Matchmakers (CSRRT) Archived November 26, 2010, at WebCite
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