The World's Fair : Dave Ng is a scientist, not a political scientist, and doesn't actually know too much about the candidates, but decides to review them anyway (Third: Elizabeth May)

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David Ng is Director of the Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University of British Columbia - this is a just a fancier way of calling himself a science teacher.

Benjamin Cohen is an Asst. Professor of Science, Tech., and Society at the University of Virginia. He studies the place of S & T in environmental history, policy, and ethics. He also writes other stuff.

Trying to find your way around this place? Like most expositions, we offer a map: Map of The World's Fair

"The world is full of light and life, and the true crime is not to be interested in it." A.S. Byatt

And so forth...

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Dave Ng is a scientist, not a political scientist, and doesn't actually know too much about the candidates, but decides to review them anyway (Third: Elizabeth May)

Category: NatureLand: What They Used to Call the Environment
Posted on: September 25, 2008 12:19 PM, by David Ng

ELIZABETH MAY: Ooh oh - I know this one: Something to do with the colour green. That's right. Wasn't she in Anne of Green Gables? "Oh Elizabeth May, I do believe that your frock is on backwards, which is not the impression of civility one wants to make in Cape Breton." (or something like that). This is important, because I can't remember if she was one of the nice ones in the show, or the girl who was basically a real bitch. That would make a big difference in whether I'd support her or not. Anyway, I'm a big fan of historical dramas which is great because at least someone will talk like they're from a Jane Austen movie during the national debate.

So what do you think of the Green Party candidate?

(Other reviews: Stephen Harper | Stephane Dion | Elizabeth May)

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Comments

Y'know: I appreciate this is a (pretty weak) attempt at humour, but given the importance of science to politics these days (not to mention the stakes for science funding and the environment in upcoming elections in Canada and the U.S.), lampooning scientists as not having any political sense is in really poor taste. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but I don't find this particularly funny. It's not even very clever...

Posted by: HgMan | September 27, 2008 8:16 AM

Lampooning science and politics is in poor taste? Really?

I can take the fact that this isn't necessarily a good attempt at humour, but to suggest that there are limits for what humour can or cannot attempt to tackle - and then to say that a particular limit includes the combination of scientists and politics? That is curmudgeony indeed.

Posted by: David Ng | September 28, 2008 1:46 AM