An expression often used is “according to science and proven experience”, for example when we want to give authority to what we have chosen to do or when we argue for something (or against it). In the previous post on this blog I made a comment on what science is and who is a scientist. The second part of the expression, proven experience, is worth commenting on as well.
Knowledge is always imperfect, dependent as it is on previous knowledge, which also is imperfect. That’s why science says:
“This is true, as far as we know today”.
The science knowledge is coming from following the scientific rules in making tests and discussing the results, often with statistics.
“Proven experience” is knowledge obtained through other means than scientific tests, often from experience during many years getting the same results when doing things the same way. Is it false knowledge or bad knowledge? Of course not. That’s why it’s used by scientists, and used others as well.
If for example no advice would be given concerning anything until you had scientific tests confirming methods or descriptions, not many advices would be given. And not much would be done if there were nothing done until science had to say anything on the topic from relevant scientific tests.
There is much that is not confirmed or contradicted by science that concerns what we do in everyday life. And yes, many things we do may be completely or partially incorrect. And even advices we follow from scientists change after a number of years, sometimes radically, when they and we know better. This is also the case with proven experience.
When it comes to scientific tests, after some time we may realize that tests done are designed with lack of knowledge concerning some important facts. If these had been known the tests had been designed differently and results had maybe been different.
Sadly, sometimes also scientists (as all other types of people) have been revealed to cheat. (Why do people cheat anyway?) One way of doing this is to consciously design a test so that you most probably will not get a clear result. With bees and varroa tests you just keep what you call control colonies and test colonies enough close to each other (within 2 km [1.5 miles] from each other) and let the mite populations raise high enough. Reinfestation between these colonies will more or less even out varroa populations. As a result, you will find it more difficult to see differences in varroa resistance traits between bee colonies.
Proven experience is something other than science in my eyes.
It is specifically related to individual actions, that is to say subjective, and is set forth by carrying evidence, e.g. an accounting or a description of the action or by the degree of fame of the person or the desirability of what the person does.
The proven result is the direct success, for example in your case it is a low mortality of treatment-free colonies, you may prove the methods you have applied to achieve this by your journal. It is however related to your particular and personal situation.
Science works objectively ( if you disregard the lobbies 🙂 ) and the scientific results can be used like a tool to clarify situations and to get an idea of the circumstances.
Dear Erik,
you wrote: “Reinfestation between these colonies will more or less even out varroa populations.”
I’m sorry, but this is definately NOT what other beekeepers usually experience – at least as long as no robbing or queenless conditions existed.
I totally agree about so called scientist cheating and designing test according to the needs of those who are willing to pay their bills, but the example given is completely misleading.
Regards André
That reinfestation is a big problem is well known among scientists. See for example the link submitted by Sibylle here. What you say about other beekeepers may well be true, but you don’t tell which these are and under which circumstances. Is the beekeepers are more than 2 km from bees with high varroa levels reinfestation from these bee colonies are no problems, but reinfestation between colonies in the apiary could be.
I don’t agree with you concerning the example given about a not well designed experiment. To help me understand what you mean it would be good if you could explain yourself more.
BTW1:
Could it be called cheating as well, if comments to previous posts, questions and statements are disabled once inconvenient diskussions come up?
BTW2:
Are you aware of the open letter that was sent to the European Buckfast-Beekepers Association (GdeB) in front of their Breeders-Meeting in Neuenstein-Aua, Germany in 2017?
Best regards
André
BTW1: don’t know what you mean. explain yourself. All your comments on this blog are published.
BTW2: Why should I be aware of that letter (2016)?
I have to correct myself, the letter was sent in 2016.
Perhaps this is of interest to you, André:
https://beekeep.info/a-treatise-on-modern-honey-bee-management/managing-diseases-and-pests/varroa-short-history/varroa-mites-a-community-problem/
Sibylle