Today is Hug a Climate Scientist Day, a long tradition started last year for us to say thank you to Australia’s Climate Scientists just for being them. It is not easy being a Scientist apparently although doing experiments and stuff must be awesome.

This cartoon explains it all.

And so does this press release.

This picture of a pademelon does not do anything but it is pretty good anyway.

We made it to June 12 2012 without being drowned by the oceans! Take that Tim Flannery! No wait … that’s not how it works is it.

This is serious business people. You can’t just expect there to be a climate scientist standing on the corner so you can just wander up and hug them. A lot of them are in hiding! Some even got death threats (not a joke) and had to move offices.

So get to it – and send us a photo of you in the act of hugging and we MIGHT send you a first dog mouse pad. Send them to boss@crikey.com.au.

And remember, if you can’t find a climate scientist, any old scientist will do. And if you haven’t got a scientist handy, you can just hug a random warmenist. And if you haven’t got a warmenist nearby you probably work at the IPA so what are you doing with your life?

Whatever, let’s be proud of our Climate Scientists and give them friendly squeezes to show them we care. Like these people who are inflicting a lovely hug on none other than Will Ferrell Steffen, an actual Commissioner from Australia’s Climate Commission and also a climate science expert and researcher, and the Executive Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University. How lovely. HUG HIM!!!

And check back here as the day goes on – we will post more photos as we get them and we will send some people First Dog on the Moon mouse pads because we care.

Will Steffan gets adored

Damien Irving, Actual CSIRO Science Person is appreciated by the AYCC Hug Squad

Lesley Hughes is cuddled by some sensible young people.

The CSIRO’s Steve Crimp (right) is cherished by a passing stranger.

All the other information you need is in the previous blog post here ok.