Another good sign: the proliferation of good science blogs bringing up these issues...
Instead of scientists mobilizing on an individual scale, we can support organizations which do that for us. Do your science, but give money to the AAAS or UCS or whatever. We should think of ourselves the way other professional organizations do... we need lobbying and public relations initiatives.
RSR,
As usual, you are right on target. Two suggestions:
In the NYT, this week an article about cafe scientifique offers a unique opportunity...a place for scientists to informally present their research and interact with the public.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/2...all&
oref=slogin
Denver has one and it is apparently going strong. It's so popular that they suggest the audience arrive early for seating. http://cafescicolorado.org/
My second suggestion is to develop a team of scientists and educators that could make Sunday school presentations about the nature of science. Many adult sunday school classes would love to explore the intersection between faith and science with scientists.
BW
I agree fully with RSR's comments. I greatly admire and respect what RZM does as a blogger. He is good at it and makes excellent contributions to the cause. However, we must recognize that this is ultimately a POLITICAL battle that will be won or lost largely in the political arena. Therefore, we also need scientists who can communicate effectively with the general public - yes, even in Sunday school classes! Some of our most pro-evolution activists in Oklahoma were recruited at talks given to mainstream church groups. We need both more RZMs as well as those who will speak effectively to general audiences.
Just some thoughts:
Try to keep the science message positive. Avoid the mudslinging. Stay above the fray as much as possible.
Don't debate the ID folks. Rather, take the time to educate. Don't get into a point-by-point back and forth.
I hear over and over again that the general public needs a better grounding in basic science. They don't understand hurricanes and how they form because they don't know anything at all about basics like "hot air rises." Seriously!
ID folks pander to emotional connections to win the opinion polls. "My grandpa wasn't an ape."
Keep it positive. Keep it informative (on a basic level). And get active! Citizens for Science groups are popping up all over. Join yours! Do something! Support sound science in schools. Demand it!
Regarding scientists, Olson says that it is a "fact that they are losing touch with the American public."
Of course, Olson speaks from the perspective of a professional communicator. From his perspective, scientists have difficulty communicating. (Ironically, Olson has difficulty communicating what problems scientists specifically have and what they should do about it.)
My perspective: It is a fact that the American public is losing touch with science (and reality in general) because of the incessant amounts of propaganda that the American public is subjected to. It's a propaganda war, a war of influence, where what people can be most easily lead to believe and support is all-important. It's a war that isn't ever going to be won solely through the addition of more propaganda, it's a war that will be won or lost through education. Olson's observations and suggestions are useless without placing them in the perspective that good science education is the priority, better communication will only help.
I took my two little cousins (girls aged 8 and 12) to the "Darwin" exhibit at the American Musuem of Natural History (NYC). We also visited the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
One thing we can do is make sure the seed is planted in the minds of the next generation. Kids at that age are incredibly curious snd these kids, at least, ask great queations.
Something I've done for the past six or seven years is open my university's observatory to the public on a regular basis - about every three weeks during the academic year. We advertise this on the local cable channel, university web page, and a few other outlets to get the word out.
During these public viewing events I point the telescope at a variety of objects - planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies - and explain a little bit about what they are seeing and how we come to this knowledge. The response from the general public has been remarkable. We are located in a small, rural community, and some of the visitors have little education beyond high school, but they bring their kids and spend an hour looking, listening, and occasionally asking some very good questions.
There is curiosity about science out there and this has been one way to introduce the public to science and how it works.
My perspective: It is a fact that the American public is losing touch with science (and reality in general) because of the incessant amounts of propaganda that the American public is subjected to. It's a propaganda war, a war of influence, where what people can be most easily lead to believe and support is all-important. It's a war that isn't ever going to be won solely through the addition of more propaganda, it's a war that will be won or lost through education. Olson's observations and suggestions are useless without placing them in the perspective that good science education is the priority, better communication will only help.
This is necessary, but not sufficient, as it ignores some of the basic communication behavior (you know....science) that underlies a lot of marketing and persuasion. Americans are bombarded by information, period; they're more disconnect than connected to others in the world. It's an inherent condition in this world, exacerbated by the many rich channels of communication that are available to Americans today. People who don't understand that are going to fail.
There's nothing stopping scientists from educating as they communicate. But they have to understand their audience in order to do that...and constantly harping on the public's ignorance or how the public doesn't understand shows that they DON'T understand their audience, and they're throwing away half their repertoire in trying to reach them.
gwangung - You misunderstand my perspective. I dont think this is a problem caused by scientists, nor one they can solve. This is a problem caused by professional communicators like Olson. It will be solved by educators.
Of course, we can also use the science of influence, which I'm familiar, to communicate better. We can also use it to educate people on how to protect themselves from propaganda and propagandists.
Don't listen to Olson.
Don't give these creatonists an inch.
Tell em what they are.
Keep up the good work!
You are doing great!
"Tomorrow, RSR will take a look at the Michael Ruse, Daniel Dennett exchange."
Would like to see it ...
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