Ecolog While the "Disseminating scientific thought to the general public: are scientists making science readily accessible?" discussion thread contained some very useful discussion of principles, nothing illustrates principle like specific examples. I would be interested in Ecolog's evaluation of a current example of scientific writing, speaking, and media production. Here's an interesting example of how the public is being "informed" by a respected source: http://www.npr.org/2011/04/16/135468901/climate-change-making-the-nations-bears-hungry
For those who have time to listen to the item, I'd be interested especially in your analysis of the tone of the featured authority. WT ----- Original Message ----- From: "David L. McNeely" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 5:09 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Disseminating scientific thought to the general public: are scientists making science readily accessible? > ---- Martin Meiss <[email protected]> wrote: >> A reasoned argument that when scientists have an important point to make >> to the public, they should find a way to do it repeatedly, somewhat like a >> television commercial is repeated over and over to get the words out to the >> public. The idea is that a claim made often enough becomes true in the >> collective mind, without consideration for whether it is true or not. >> Implicit in Martin's recommendation is that the point that scientists have >> to make is true, and thus the drum of repetition would not lead to >> acceptance of a non-truth. > > If my understanding is correct, then perhaps Martin is correct. But then > again, wouldn't the public begin to think about science as just another one > of the myriad of interests groups that bombards it with a barrage of claims, > regardless of veracity, but only for the benefit of the group doing the > bombardment? > > Methinks the studied, careful delivery of properly vetted information has the > greatest chance of doing real, lasting service to truth. Now, should we deny > interest groups (say Union of Concerned Scientists, or American Wildlife > Federation) the privilege we deny to ourselves of advertising for welfare? > No. > > Nor should we never toot our own horn. We sometimes should. > > mcneely > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3511 - Release Date: 03/16/11 > Internal Virus Database is out of date. >
