The word geek has changed from a term of derision to one of smiling respect and even a badge of honour. It is employed almost exclusively to describe people with aptitude in technical matters — computers, mathematics, engineering, the physical sciences.
The members of the Climate Commission would no doubt be happy to be called geeks. They've released a report that put in context Australia's contribution to climate change and worldwide efforts to ease its effects. Their evidence comes from numbers, some of which are not encouraging. For example, Australia is the 15th largest emitter of greenhouse gases; per capita, we make the greatest contribution of any country to climate change.
It seems there is far too little 'geek' representation in the halls of power. In the US, 55 of the 100 senators are lawyers, but the senate does not have even one scientist or engineer; in the UK House of Commons, only one of the 650 members was a scientist in a previous career. The figures for geeks in the Australian parliament are better, but they are small beside those with backgrounds in law, media, economics and business.
Recently, Joe Hockey was heard complaining to parliament about the way the present government has wasted money on research: 'Hang on — there was $145,000 for a study of sleeping snails, to determine 'factors that aid life extension'! There was $210,000 to study the early history of the moon. You can imagine Tim staring out longingly from the window at the Lodge at the moon and thinking, "You know what, Julie? We should have a good look at that. Why don't we spend $210,000 to work out what happened before Neil Armstrong got there?"'
I don't know what the snail study was, and ignoring for a moment how the Hansard writer knew to use that exclamation mark, I would be most surprised if the life extension to which the research refers did not have relevance beyond gastropods, including to older citizens who unlike Hockey may have an interest in the results.
But I do know that the early history of the moon has long been an area of research. Notwithstanding the Shadow Treasurer's mockery, it is important to know whether the moon is a result of a collision or