@sundogplanets Are your talks recorded and shared? e.g., on freetube (preferably), or youtube.

@sundogplanets I would say, from experience, likely a combination.

E.g. "Was it because they are all so busy that suggesting even one more thing to do is overwhelming?"

Yes.

I'm particularly familiar with this in respect to having implemented educational changes in a Uni department.

My strategy there was to ensure changes included focussing on less work for academics (at least, less of things they didn't want to do e.g. admin and more of what they did e.g. actual physics / astro). Also...

@sundogplanets here is my experience with some of the Climate/academic travel & climate talks I gave at astro/physics departments - if comparing notes helps. I think the response is mostly a lot ofr experience of trying to change the system and bitterly failing.

What helps me: address this feeling heads on, point out to people that hope is an action, not a feeling. If there are examples of things that worked, list them around the actions, possibly after, as the last thing for ppl to remember.

@sundogplanets Could it be that the amateurs didn't actually grasp the scope and consequences of what you were saying, so still had hope, where the professionals did and saw just how screwed we are?

@sundogplanets if people hadn't put the pieces together yet, it was probably shock, like they needed to process it before they could sort out grief, anger, horror, concern for their profession, and all the rest!

@sundogplanets The realization that what they've dedicated their life and education to might be about to nearly end?

@sundogplanets
I am not able to check your data, facts and conclusions but believe you, even all this sounds unbelievable in many ways. Perhaps, and regarding to the overwhelming amount of fake, scientist are more sceptical at first range?

@sundogplanets "grief for the night sky" -- it's both a poem and a science fiction short story. Hmmm... I'd better get writing it!

@sundogplanets Is it possible that the amateurs already had some familiarity with this topic, and that’s why they attended the talk? Vs the possibility that it might actually be news to the professionals, who get involved in their own niche and maybe weren’t as aware of the problem? I.e. They were stunned to hear about it for the first time.

@sundogplanets
Perhaps they are feeling overwhelmed for all of the reasons stated, and adding to your list geopolitics, the economy, and climate.

Here's my list of actions (which I frame carefully by saying "when I hear a depressing talk, I want a list of things I can do myself immediately. If you are like that, pick one or two of these and run with it! If not, no guilt!")

Giant, powerful corporations like SpaceX will respond to only 2 things: legislation (which is very slow, and is now totally not going to happen in the US), and consumer pressure.

If you have alternatives, DO NOT USE STARLINK.