Chris Zell wrote:
"Selling" Cold Fusion? Public Relations? And this is Science we're
talking about? It's disgusting.
To be fair, I am the one who calls it "public relations." Scientists
tend use more genteel expressions, such as 'educating the public
about the need for this research.' They all do this, and they always
have, right back to the beginning of the scientific revolution when
Galileo tried to impress the Cardinals with the view through his
telescope -- which they found unconvincing for good reasons. (The
facts are contrary to the myth in this case.)
Whatever you call it, I see nothing wrong with PR. I don't understand
why Zell thinks it is disgusting.
Along the same lines, I do not understand why people criticized U.
Utah, Fleischmann and Pons for the 1989 press conference. Thanks to
Steve Krivit we have all had a chance to see it. There is nothing
untoward or uncalled for in it! I don't think it was too early,
although Fleischmann wanted to wait several more years. Plus I see
nothing wrong with the term "cold fusion." It is close enough. Heck,
it is probably right: deuterium fusion probably forms helium. And if
it turns out to be wrong, so what? Meteorology has nothing to with
meteors but that's irrelevant and it does not confuse anyone. Words
mean what they mean.
There is a sort of Ivory Tower, prissy elitist opposition to press
conferences and public relations, as if scientists should not have
worldly concerns, or -- heaven forefend! -- concerns about mere
filthy lucre, or solving problems for people and making useful
contributions to society. The objections often boil down to
well-funded scientists saying: "we got ours, but don't you dare ask
for yours." Mainly these are plasma fusion and high energy particle
scientists who routinely hold press conferences to ballyhoo their
results months before they publish anything. This happened most
recently yesterday:
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=2d2333fc-1e2a-4763-acb1-b265c2a0860b
This physicist even had the gall to denigrate cold fusion! (That's
why I heard about it.)
Technologists and inventors are even more inclined to toot their own
horns, and no one finds it unseemly. Edison conducted brilliant
public demonstrations of the gramophone and the incandescent light,
that blew away the skeptical opposition.
- Jed
