"We" need a LESS PATRONIZING approach to "lay" people by "scientists," not a
more patronizing one. And an academic system that promotes learning and
understanding, rather than retarding it. The "firewall" approach retards
learning and understanding, the very thing "we" want to promote.
Even as a "business model," the outrageous practice of nicking people
outside the "scientific" priesthood fifteen or fifty bucks for 24 hour
access to a two or two hundred page paper is bankrupt. It drives away small
"customers" (the "lay" public), depriving them of information and access to
the best and/or most current thinking on subjects of interest to them, and
destroys support for science by the very people most inclined to support it.
To extend the patronizing attitude, suggestions for open access to
publications are customarily met with silence (the best survival strategy is
to avoid discouraging words and other challenges to the priesthood from whom
you might want a grant or a job someday) other patronizing yelps from
institutional bureaucrats who really want to shake down university and other
libraries for huge access fees for services limited to the anointed ONLY.
"Lay" people need not apply!
WT
PS: I'm only worth a lousy million-plus, and I have no family. Do you think
I'm gonna will it to some firewalled institution? Not on my life or yours!
I'm thinking of leaving it to some tramp on the street. Please, no pleas!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Landsbergen Ph.D." <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] ESA Position on Open Access - and - scientific
communication to the public
Jane, thanks for your post.
The ESA's position, as an academic publisher, is predictable. The academic
publishing world is rapidly changing. Publishers (of many kinds) are
seeing
the near future in which they are no longer sole gatekeepers of content,
or
process.
I'd like to comment on a part of ESA's position letter:
"One way to make taxpayer funded research more visible and accessible to
interested members of the public would be to require federally-funded
grantees to provide a second version of the research summaries they
already
prepare, specifically for the lay reader. To aid in online searches, these
summaries could also include the source of federal funding institutions
and
grant numbers. Publishers could also include grant information in paper
abstracts which are usually available without a subscription."
I would see a 'layperson-targeted research summary' as just a beginning.
We
scientists should take the lead in promoting and interpreting our
scientific
work for the public in engaging and digestible ways. There are lots of
needs pulling us in this direction: to encourage STEM interest, to justify
public research, to enhance human engagement with the biological world
(re)
conservation.
There are great examples of scientists directly engaging the public about
their work: tweeting scientists, networking with scientific journalists,
making YouTube videos, etc (eg "the Large Hadron Rap" by Alpinekat on
YouTube). Dr. Nalini Nadkarni and colleagues in the International Canopy
Network have led the way on engaging the public in novel ways. However,
this
kind of engaging public communication is the rare exception, not the norm.
If you're thinking "there's no way I can do all that AND my science too",
another means to get your work out to the public is to actively partner
with
professionals in the visual communication field. Also, many universities
have "media relations" offices that can provide help.
I'm an Assoc.Prof. of science at a college of Art and Design, and am
actively working in this area - bringing scientists and artists together
for
improved scientific communication and improved scientific literacy in
artists/designers. Both parties (scientists and art/designers) benefit
from
this collaboration. Did I mention it is awesomely fun?
--
Kim Landsbergen Ph.D., Certified Senior Ecologist
Associate Professor, Columbus College of Art & Design
Visiting Research Scholar, EEOB, The Ohio State University
CarbonEcology Consulting LLC, Owner
e: kim.landsbergen at gmail dot com
p: 01-614-795-6003
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