Dear ASCers,
Chris Mooney is speaking at the Press Club today. You may recall that he was our opening speaker at the World Conference of Science Journalists in 2007.
Acclaimed science writer to speak at National Press Club
Mr Chris Mooney, author of the controversial New York Times bestselling book, ‘The Republican War on Science’, will speak
at the National Press Club on Wednesday 10th March as part of the program for the 11th annual Science meets Parliament
[SmP].Organiser of the event, Ms Anna‐Maria Arabia, Executive Director of the Federation of Australian Scientific and
Technological Societies [FASTS] , said Mr Mooney’s thought‐provoking views would be a timely addition to scientific debate
in Australia.
“Globally the integrity and validity of science is being placed under question largely as a result of the climate change
debate. The negativity surrounding science is palpable and is having a detrimental impact on decision makers and young
scientists’ career decisions.
“In Australia policy action by government has already stalled as a result of this negativity and the community is losing
confidence in the scientific research effort.
“Restoring confidence in the peer‐review process and the scientific profession, and raising a deeper awareness of the
importance of the scientific endeavour requires a joint effort.
“Collectively, we must ensure we remain a nation driven by knowledge, not by doubt.
“Chris Mooney is widely respected and will bring to SmP a fresh perspective, challenging many established ideas. He is
abundantly qualified to discuss the importance of distinguishing legitimate research from ideology and unsubstantiated
opinion ,” she said.
AUTHOR BACKGROUND
A senior correspondent for The American Prospect magazine, Chris has achieved widespread acclaim
with The Republican War on Science dubbed “a landmark in contemporary political reporting”
by Salon.com and a “well‐researched, closely argued and amply referenced indictment of the right
wing’s assault on science and scientists” by Scientific American.
His second book Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle Over Global Warming was dubbed
“riveting” by the Boston Globe and selected as a 2007 best book of the year in the science category by
Publisher’s Weekly. Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future was published last year.
Chris Mooney’s writings have been nominated for a National Magazine Award and included in the volumes Best American
Science and Nature Writing 2006. Mooney was also named one of Wired magazine’s top ten “sexiest geeks.”
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION ONLY
Andrew Heslop
0404 038 106
Released 09.03.2010
_______________
Niall Byrne Science in Public
ph +61 (3) 9398 1416 or 0417 131 977 niall@scienceinpublic.com.au
Full contact details at www.scienceinpublic.com/blog http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog
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