Recognition of uncertainty is a characteristic of the scientific method and can be viewed from different aspects – mathematical, philosophical and statistical. Important decisions are made, in government and business, in the light of uncertain scientific advice, yet the methods by which different scientific disciplines assess and communicate uncertainty are rarely compared. A cross-fertilisation of ideas for how to represent and communicate uncertainty could have enormous benefits on our understanding of everything from economics to health issues or climate change.
Professor David Spiegelhalter FRS gives his thoughts on uncertainty in science. (4 mins, requires Flash Player).
Recent public debate about climate change has undoubtedly demonstrated that uncertainty in science needs to be more effectively explained. Despite a growing number of suggestions that the science of climate change is becoming more uncertain, weather and climate scientists have..''
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