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| Italy's ludicrous earthquake witch-hunt | Italy's ludicrous earthquake witch-hunt |
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| Compared to the immense dignity of the Spanish nation following the Lorca earthquake in May 2011 in a region known for its past seismicity, when they realised better building codes were needed, the Italians have conducted a judicial witch-hunt following the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in a far more seismically active area (Italian court sends shockwaves around the world as it convicts seismologists, 24 October). What would have happened if, due to the seismic swarm of small tremors, a full evacuation had been ordered and there had been widespread looting, but as often happens there had not been a major earthquake? Would the courts have jailed or bankrupted the experts for this costly disruption? | Compared to the immense dignity of the Spanish nation following the Lorca earthquake in May 2011 in a region known for its past seismicity, when they realised better building codes were needed, the Italians have conducted a judicial witch-hunt following the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in a far more seismically active area (Italian court sends shockwaves around the world as it convicts seismologists, 24 October). What would have happened if, due to the seismic swarm of small tremors, a full evacuation had been ordered and there had been widespread looting, but as often happens there had not been a major earthquake? Would the courts have jailed or bankrupted the experts for this costly disruption? |
| The best scientific advice tries to estimate the likely size of the biggest quake a region is going to experience, and then looks at ground conditions, which can be a very significant factor. Soft alluvium wobbles like a jelly and major earthquakes can trigger landslips, and yet 60% of this tectonically active country has yet to be geological surveyed to modern standards. Rather than looking for scapegoats, the new Italian government needs to address this problem. Closer to home, supposedly unforeseen ground conditions and poor planning waste far more than the British Geological Survey failing to maintain an ongoing geological mapping programme, as large areas of our own country still require a complete overhaul and publication of 1:50,000 geological maps. David Nowell Fellow of the Geological Society | The best scientific advice tries to estimate the likely size of the biggest quake a region is going to experience, and then looks at ground conditions, which can be a very significant factor. Soft alluvium wobbles like a jelly and major earthquakes can trigger landslips, and yet 60% of this tectonically active country has yet to be geological surveyed to modern standards. Rather than looking for scapegoats, the new Italian government needs to address this problem. Closer to home, supposedly unforeseen ground conditions and poor planning waste far more than the British Geological Survey failing to maintain an ongoing geological mapping programme, as large areas of our own country still require a complete overhaul and publication of 1:50,000 geological maps. David Nowell Fellow of the Geological Society |
| • Italy's environment minister is quite right to highlight the ludicrous notion that doubt is no longer permitted in scientific evaluation. Searching for scientific scapegoats and creating an environment where people are fearful to do their jobs will do absolutely nothing to further scientific endeavour and raise serious questions about academic freedom. Sally Hunt General secretary, University and College Union | • Italy's environment minister is quite right to highlight the ludicrous notion that doubt is no longer permitted in scientific evaluation. Searching for scientific scapegoats and creating an environment where people are fearful to do their jobs will do absolutely nothing to further scientific endeavour and raise serious questions about academic freedom. Sally Hunt General secretary, University and College Union |
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