Framing Science
cmooney | September 29, 2007You probably aren't going to believe this. But not only was the battle at the Bell Museum in Minneapolis last night pretty un-warlike; the participants actually seemed to find plenty of common ground. Both Greg Laden and, yes, even PZ Myers agreed that the framing of science can be a useful tool sometimes--perhaps even a good idea sometimes.
Yeah, I know. Pretty shocking.
Let me explain what happened. The Chris and Matt team went into this debate with a clear strategy: Try not to fight too much over science and religion; and do not fall prey to the tyranny of small differences when…
sheril | September 28, 2007This is the true story...of eight strangers...picked to share a new science blog...work together, and have their research and interests exposed...to find out what happens when scientists and media experts stop being esoteric...and start getting real...CORRELATIONS.
* a collaboration between WIRED Science and PBS *
We've got a physicist, an antarctic meteorologist, an epidemiologist (and fellow SciBling), a producer, a climate scientist, a television host, a writer, and your resident blogger who finds herself somewhere in the space between science, policy, and media.
Nate dea, quo fata…
sheril | September 26, 2007
Before Flock of Dodos and Shifting Baselines, Randy Olson was inspiring the next generation of marine scientists with educational videos on topics in our field. My first semester in graduate school, I was dazzled by a particular captivating piece from 1991. Craig McClain referenced this project when he was in town (it's notorious in marine science circles), so yesterday I encouraged my pal RO to post his earlier work on youtube. Unforgettable footage that will leave you just a little more informed about the wonderful world of barnacles.
Most quoted line: 'Barnacles Are Very Well Hung'
sheril | September 26, 2007Kudos to our clever commentors... Well played!
You figured out my framing game... I've been sharing my perspective on the media with regard to science and politics over several months now and evidently readers have been paying attention. My post yesterday was an experiment of sorts to see if you'd notice when a seemingly reputable news source emphasized the alarmist spin and left out some details. [Note the heavy use of italicized quotes]. Instead of replying in the comments, I'm outing myself in this forum with hope to find out more about your initial reactions...
This is the kind of…
nisbetmc | September 26, 2007
Appearing as the cover story for the October issue of The Scientist, I've teamed up with my colleague Dietram Scheufele to pen a 4,000 word feature that expands on the Framing Science thesis previously introduced in short articles at Science and the Washington Post.
There's a great deal of context and research outlined in this article, so I hope everyone gets a chance to read the full text. (Currently, it's subscription protected.)
Allowed the luxury of space, we provide a fuller discussion of the origins and nature of research on framing. We then describe a common set of frames that…
nisbetmc | September 19, 2007For those planning to attend the AAAS panel on "Communicating Science in a Religious America," I just received notice that it is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 17 at 145pm. It's programmed as a 180 minute symposium with six panelists and then lots of time for comments from the moderator and audience. It promises to be a great dialogue around themes of immense interest to conference attendees!
nisbetmc | September 18, 2007
Before there was EO Wilson's breakthrough success with The Creation, there was Carl Sagan, who was a master at emphasizing the shared values between science and religion.
Consider this example: According to both Sagan biographies, during the late 1980s, in advocating his "nuclear winter" hypothesis, the Cornell astronomer led a delegation of scientists to the Vatican to give a research briefing for Pope John Paul, who subsequently issued a statement against nuclear build-up. Based on the meeting's success, Sagan came away convinced of the need to emphasize the common goals between scientists…
sheril | September 17, 2007Nisbet and PZ are arguing as usual over science communication and atheism... a prescription for a popular post on science blogs we all know well. Let's expand the discussion of framing and science to issues that actually matter* like climate change. On Friday, I posted a clip where Bill Nye had trouble defending global warming in a debate staged by Larry King for the purpose of entertainment. What follows is reposted from my comment (long buried by now), because it's relevant in the great communication discourse.I posted the clip because it highlights the importance of communication and…
cmooney | September 15, 2007Jeez, I go on vacation to New Orleans and all hell breaks loose between PZ and Matt over framing science stuff.
I feel less and less like a participant in this debate and more and more like a referee.
Folks, we're going to publicly debate all this in, as I count it, two weeks in Minneapolis. It's going to be a great event, and it's going to provoke much thought and generate tons of follow-up dialogue.
So don't use up your best stuff too far in advance! And can we please keep it at least mildly friendly?
nisbetmc | September 14, 2007
For scienceblogs.com readers who have never been to an annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, you are missing out on the world's greatest discussion of research and new ideas. In particular, I find that the meetings feature a one-of-a-kind forum for discussion of science and society issues, ranging from policy matters to public engagement. This year's meetings are in Boston, February 14-18. If the registration seems a bit pricey, believe me, it is well worth it to attend, plus you can build into the cost a year subscription to Science magazine.
At this…
cmooney | September 10, 2007In my public talks, I often mention Randy Olson's wonderfully funny and humane documentary Flock of Dodos--and the many lessons it hold for those of us seeking to defend the teaching of evolution and to explain science to those unfamiliar with it. Yet too often, the audience has responded with a blank stare--they obviously haven't seen the documentary yet.
But now, finally, Flock of Dodos is available on DVD. If you haven't seen it yet, you simply must acquire a copy. Just click on the DVD image--and in the process, help prevent science and critical thinking from going extinct!
clock | September 9, 2007Randy Olson's movie had a very short and limited release. Reed rallied the troops so NCSU library got a copy and there was a public viewing that I could not attend.
But now, everyone can watch it, as Jennifer reports. It is available, for instance, on amazon.com. I'll put it on my wishlist for now, so it is there, ready for me to buy it when I get some money next time.
cmooney | September 6, 2007Well, it's just like Nisbet has been saying--and like I have been saying. The "facts" rarely change minds. Here's Shankar Vedantam:
The conventional response to myths and urban legends is to counter bad information with accurate information. But the new psychological studies show that denials and clarifications, for all their intuitive appeal, can paradoxically contribute to the resiliency of popular myths....
....Contrary to the conventional notion that people absorb information in a deliberate manner, the studies show that the brain uses subconscious "rules of thumb" that can bias it into…
clock | September 3, 2007If I was not already scheduled to appear on a panel in Wisconsin at the same time, I would have loved to go to this:
The fourth Image and Meaning workshop, IM2.4, part of the Envisioning Science Program at Harvard's IIC will be held Oct. 25 and 26, 2007, Thursday and Friday, at the Hilles library on the Harvard campus. Application deadline is September 17, 2007
Scientists, graphic designers, writers, animators and others are invited to join us and LEARN FROM EACH OTHER while exploring solutions to problems in the visual expression of concepts and data in science and engineering. This will…
nisbetmc | September 3, 2007
On Friday I will be taking part in the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program at Stanford University, speaking to attendees about how the public uses science information online. Whether news, YouTube, blogs or social networking sites, what does research tell us about the best way to engage key audiences?
Sponsored by the Woods Institute for the Environment, the Leopold program "advances environmental decision-making by providing academic scientists with the skills and connections needed to be effective leaders and communicators."
Next week, on Wed. Sept. 12, I will be in Boston at Northeastern…
cmooney | August 30, 2007
This is the picture--suspiciously resembling my colleague and Scibling Matt Nisbet--that runs alongside our two and a half page letters exchange (PDF) in the current issue of Science. Essentially, there are four letters reacting to and criticizing various aspects of our "Framing Science" policy forum article from April (PDF). And then there's our lengthy response--which you can read in its entirety over at Nisbet's blog. (To get the other letters you'll need a subscription, at least for the time being.)
Some familiar issues arise here--for example, one letter writer incorrectly likens…
nisbetmc | August 30, 2007
Science has published four letters in response to our framing article along with a fifth letter as our reply.
As it turns out, I know two of the correspondents fairly well.
Earle Holland, the author of the first letter, is assistant VP for Research Communications at The Ohio State University, where I served on the faculty for three years before moving to American University and Washington, DC. During my time at Ohio State, Earle attended a Dean's Lecture on framing that I gave to the College of Biological Sciences. We also discussed the nature of science communication several times. He…
sheril | August 27, 2007Gladius in one hand and scutum in the other, I enter the SciBling Colosseum... Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant (Gladiators didn't actually say that, but adds a nice touch, no?)
Matt and Revere are already battling over two topics that always seem to provide a good show for spectators and participants in the blogosphere:Framing and Atheism
Read their posts for full disclosure, but to recap:
Nisbet:
* Dawkins et al. have generated more discussion of atheism and critiques of religion, but is the this particular brand of discussion productive? Not only is it polarizing, but it lacks a positive…
nisbetmc | August 25, 2007
Before there was James Carville and Carl Rove, there was Michael Deaver, father of the presidential photo-op and stage master to the Ronald Reagan White House. As the Washington Post wrote in last week's Sunday front page obit, Deaver was "the media maestro who shaped President Ronald Reagan's public image for 20 years, transforming American politics with his powerful gift for image-making."
NPR On the Media devotes a segment to Deaver in this week's program, interviewing Reagan biographer Edmund Morris (listen to audio above.) In the interview, when asked about the secret of Deaver's…
nisbetmc | August 24, 2007
It's going to be a busy fall semester. Classes start here at American University next week but in my down time I will be traveling to many different cities and major institutions to talk to a diversity of groups about new directions in science communication. Below is a lineup as it stands right now.
A few other possible stops are still in the works. These trips will be an opportunity to talk about how research can and should inform public engagement efforts, but it will also be a great opportunity to gain insights from some of the smartest people in the country.
11.27.07. National…