When some people’s world view or vested interest is challenged by a scientific concept they seek to undermine it with a play on words that sways many of the less scientifically literate swinging voters. ‘It’s only a theory, isn’t it?’ places climate change science and evolution on a par with idle speculation and pseudoscience.
One of the things ASC can contribute to ongoing debates about the validity and role of scientific information is to develop various ways of explaining what science is and what it isn’t to suit different audiences and uses.
If you have any good answers or references to ‘What is science?’ and ‘What isn’t science?’ please send them to me. I know there are some good papers that address this topic but wouldn’t it also be good to have a one-liner or two ready to destroy a doubter’s argument? OK, it may need to be a short paragraph with additional cleverly worded information if needed; remember we’re seeking a range of styles of answers for different purposes. No research papers please, unless they would make effective interview material on the Colbert Report.
We’ll have a group of people collate and assess the replies and put the best ones on our website. Then we will seek to promote them far and wide. I’m not promising prizes for the best contributions (not yet anyway) nor can I guarantee your name in lights but there may be some sort of acknowledgement available.
There is no deadline for this as it will be a work in progress for some time. But I ask you to get the ball rolling now by sending me any goodies you have to hand.
I feel this could become an email-athon (is there such a thing?). “Our science assessors are on-line to take your contributions now.”
Have a scientifically wonderful day.
Regards,
Jesse Shore
President, Australian Science Communicators, 2010
Jesse Shore PhD Science Communicator P: (02) 9810 2328 M: 0415 841 276 E: jesse@prismaticsciences.com W: http://www.prismaticsciences.com/ www.prismaticsciences.com
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