Did KC tell you about the "Categorically Not!" project she started over here in LA? Every month there's a loose theme (examples so far being "holes", "strings", "fluids", "uncertainty") chosen and people present little talks or discussions on the theme, drawing from scientists, artists, musicians, writers, actors, poets, dancers, playwrights.... Who are the people who show up to take part and listen? Quite a cross-section from the community of "regular" people from mostly Santa Monica and West LA, but also elsewhere (academics from USC, UCLA and other educational institutions too). Its a great opportunity to do a little to bring together people from many different disciplines and walks of life to have a fun discussion that usually carries over to dinner. And from my perspective, it's a great chance to explain some key aspects of what science is about to people who want to listen, and to learn about how others think about about the world, for example how ideas/issues can be framed if one does not have a science-first perspective. Can be a lot of fun, and scary at times too! We all have a lot to do, not just the few good science writers out there..... -cvj
I agree that K.C. Cole is terrific and I shudder at the loss of journalistic science writers. As an educational writer, I am facing the question of whether or not to write for companies who produce science texts if those texts also ignore real-age content (Big Bang, age of Earth and universe, etc.), insert ID into evolution studies, etc. So far I haven't had to turn down a job, but I expect to have to eventually. This will affect all of us as educational writers. The issue is not that I, or other individuals will lose paying work, though that's important to us, but whether or not kids will be told the truth about the world (and the more global issue of whether fundamentalists will secure enough power to deny science altogether). And, even more depressing, although there will still be texts that teach evolution uncompromised, many teachers will not address it for fear of their own community's backlash. Keep up your fine blog.
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