Socrates on the ropes

There is another paradox. While STW academics may be experts in their fields, if they are making such an important contribution to the debate, how do we explain the site's demonstrable lack of activity?

STW is neither achieving its objectives, nor reaching target audiences. Post frequency is poor, with only four in the past six months. Site traffic is very low, with only 120 comments during this period.

Of 125 posts since 5^th June 2011, 13 percent were made by the four STW Editorial Board members – Carmen Lawrence, Glenn Albrecht, Mark Edwards and David Hodgkinson; while Lewandowsky posted about 50 per cent of them.

Coincidentally, WA Supreme Court Justice James Edelman, defended Socrates in his Convocation speech on 'Challenges for University education in the next century." The commoditisation of education now underway, he suggested, would never substitute for a Socratic education or teaching method.

Would there have been more activity at STW had it promoted genuine free discussion and open enquiry, especially on matters climatic?

With UWA committed to intellectual freedom and the pursuit of excellence - and now ranked 91st in world university rankings - perhaps it should encourage those involved with it to do so.