Happy New Year and welcome to this new "on-line journal" which will be a collection of essays. It will be sort of a continuation of thoughts from my book, "Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style." In the essays, which will be roughly twice a week, I will be making reference to parts of the book from time to time.
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Randy Olson is a film maker and marine biologist who has focused in recent years on the critique of science communication. You may know him from his documentary work on the sexual practices of barnacles, the evolution-creation debate, or global warming.
Randy is coming out with a new book, Don't…
I'll admit, I've never been a big fan of New Year's resolutions. It isn't that I don't like setting goals... but vowing to make a major lifestyle change with a time limit does seem to be asking for trouble. After all, there will always be a touch of chaos. With that in mind, I actually made a…
In 2001, the US Fish and Wildlife Service published their survey results of fishing, hunting and wildlife-associated recreation and estimated that there are 46 million bird watchers in the United States, making it the second most popular hobby in that country. According to a report by the New York…
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No comments allowed....
Well, he doesn't really call it a blog....
Of course, there are days that I wish I didn't have comments allowed either....
(I will have to harass him about allowing comments!)
I finished Randy Olson's book in two sittings, as fast as I could, not able to put it down. He's a successful artist and terrific communicator... something I hope to be. So his comments are startling and vivid because I've been experiencing similar barriers, walls and big fat NOs much like he did.
Randy assumed (as I have) that science organizations would be receptive to his project. He could see that they need to reach out and communicate to the public. And certainly wouldn't they have education and outreach programs in place to do this?
I've been very discouraged at the same negative response I've received just as he was. It's even more surprising when
I find that not much else is in place for public outreach.
With the data and discoveries coming fast in furious in the next two years from sequencing, science needs good artists and communicators like us to bridge, translate and talk it up to everyone.
I don't expect to change minds or make any headway, but at least I know that one artist got through the maze. Maybe there's room for one or two more.
Lynn, I expect you to change minds.