Science blogging is a relatively new phenomenon, the impact of which is slowly becoming clear. Gone are the days when an albino silverback philosopher was a top ranking science blogger (I am quite happy to be a philosophy of science blogger, and not take credit for anything I didn't earn). I recently had a paper in Trends in Ecology and Evolution on the topic, which was more an analysis of how they functions for those used to the older publishing trajectories. Now Sciblings Shelley Batts, Nick Anthis, and Tara Smith have an advocacy paper in PLoS Biology, in which they seek to legitimate science blogs as professional activities of science, particularly of outreach. Drug Monkey has a good overview and discussion.
As a parenthetical note, the term "outreach" always triggers up images of earnest young folk playing guitars and singing "Kumbaya". There has to be something more appropriate for science and academe in general. How about "communication"?
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Along those lines Scientific American has an article on Web Science. Thought you'd be interested.
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | September 22, 2008 9:44 PM
In my former field (entomology), "outreach" is called "extension". Just a suggestion.
p.s. if you're albino, how can we be sure you're a silverback?
Posted by: djlactin | September 23, 2008 2:29 AM
I am a paradox. An enigma wrapped up in a riddle, inside a conundrum. I am all possible bald men. I contain multitudes. Man, I gotta get more of this weed...
Posted by: John S. Wilkins | September 23, 2008 2:34 AM
That's "religious outreach" John. "Scientific outreach" is when they sing the Elements song from Tom Lehrer accompanying themselves on a concertina as invented by Wheatstone, he of the Bridge.
Posted by: Thony C. | September 23, 2008 6:18 AM
There has to be something more appropriate ... How about "communication"?
Or how about "Framing"?
Posted by: divalent | September 23, 2008 9:49 AM
I didn't make up the term, but the reason the act of scientists contributing to science education is called "outreach" is that it describes Universities and other institutions reaching out to the outside world.
"Communication" is not an appropriate term because outreach encompasses far more than communication. Science outreach groups often have a mission to serve the broader community through classes, developing and sharing curriculum, and many other kinds of hands-on activities.
Posted by: Sandra Porter | September 23, 2008 10:35 AM
Sweet, thanks John.
As a result of, like, the end of the first paragraph of that paper of yours, I am writing a paper with Joan on scientsts attitudes to scientific blogging (with UQ Guinea pigs if my ethics approval ever comes through).
Yay more articles and a tonne of blogroll links...
On outreach? I know why they do use it, Sandra, but seriously, what it evokes is something else. It reinforces Snow's two worlds thingy.
Posted by: pubcat | September 23, 2008 3:05 PM
Pubcat: I know several people who work in science outreach programs. Seriously, the word "outreach" evokes the proper picture. Almost all of the educators I know were probably camp counselors in a former life.
Posted by: Sandra Porter | September 23, 2008 3:23 PM
the term "outreach" always triggers up images of earnest young folk playing guitars and singing "Kumbaya"
Really? Must be an Australianianism. In the USA, we call that "fellowship."
"Outreach" is when a major corporation donates $50K worth of lab equipment to public schools, and then spends $3M publicizing the fact.
Posted by: HP | September 23, 2008 4:55 PM
(Second Try)
Scientific American has an article up on Web Science. I thought you'd be interested.
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | September 23, 2008 10:27 PM
Unlike some of you [holds fingers up in annoying quotes gesture] I am not a Registered Scientitian or a college student and get my education fix wherever I can. I love science blogs. On occasion, reading them even leads to reading actual books. Certainly, reading Talk.origins leads to reading books (yes, I know, not a blog). Eventually, I may learn something.
Posted by: Susan Silberstein | September 24, 2008 2:52 AM