New paper on science blogging 22 Sep 2008 Science blogging is a relatively new phenomenon, the impact of which is slowly becoming clear. Gone are the days when an albino silverback philosopher was a top ranking science blogger (I am quite happy to be a philosophy of science blogger, and not take credit for anything I didn’t earn). I recently had a paper in Trends in Ecology and Evolution on the topic, which was more an analysis of how they functions for those used to the older publishing trajectories. Now Sciblings Shelley Batts, Nick Anthis, and Tara Smith have an advocacy paper in PLoS Biology, in which they seek to legitimate science blogs as professional activities of science, particularly of outreach. Drug Monkey has a good overview and discussion. As a parenthetical note, the term “outreach” always triggers up images of earnest young folk playing guitars and singing “Kumbaya”. There has to be something more appropriate for science and academe in general. How about “communication”? General Science Social evolution
Biology Are humans just animals? 2 Jul 20133 Jul 2013 Yesterday I heard on the radio a discussion by neuroscientist turned philosopher Raymond Tallis, who was arguing that humans are not just animals, and that consciousness is not just what happens in the brain. He went on at length about “Darwinitis”, a disease of intellectuals who wish to explain everything… Read More
General Science Even the Good Guys get it wrong! 10 Sep 200818 Sep 2017 Another guest post by Thony Christie John recently provided a link to a review of Steve Fuller’s newest book by Anthony Grayling. On the whole I find Professor Grayling’s comments excellent and applaud his put-down of Fuller but then in the last section of his review he goes and spoils… Read More
General Science Pro-Test, two years later 9 Feb 200818 Sep 2017 Some of you may recall I was immensely impressed by Laurie Pycroft, a 16 year old who started Pro-Test, which defended the use of animal models against the vicious and largely unthinking nastiness of animal “rights” protesters. Now Nick Anthis, at The Scientific Activist, is reporting that they seem to… Read More
I am a paradox. An enigma wrapped up in a riddle, inside a conundrum. I am all possible bald men. I contain multitudes. Man, I gotta get more of this weed…
In my former field (entomology), “outreach” is called “extension”. Just a suggestion. p.s. if you’re albino, how can we be sure you’re a silverback?
In my former field (entomology), “outreach” is called “extension”. Just a suggestion. p.s. if you’re albino, how can we be sure you’re a silverback?
the term “outreach” always triggers up images of earnest young folk playing guitars and singing “Kumbaya”. That’s “religious outreach” John. “Scientific outreach” is when they sing the Elements song from Tom Lehrer accompanying themselves on a concertina as invented by Wheatstone, he of the Bridge.
the term “outreach” always triggers up images of earnest young folk playing guitars and singing “Kumbaya”. That’s “religious outreach” John. “Scientific outreach” is when they sing the Elements song from Tom Lehrer accompanying themselves on a concertina as invented by Wheatstone, he of the Bridge.
I didn’t make up the term, but the reason the act of scientists contributing to science education is called “outreach” is that it describes Universities and other institutions reaching out to the outside world. “Communication” is not an appropriate term because outreach encompasses far more than communication. Science outreach groups often have a mission to serve the broader community through classes, developing and sharing curriculum, and many other kinds of hands-on activities.
Sweet, thanks John. As a result of, like, the end of the first paragraph of that paper of yours, I am writing a paper with Joan on scientsts attitudes to scientific blogging (with UQ Guinea pigs if my ethics approval ever comes through). Yay more articles and a tonne of blogroll links… On outreach? I know why they do use it, Sandra, but seriously, what it evokes is something else. It reinforces Snow’s two worlds thingy.
Sweet, thanks John. As a result of, like, the end of the first paragraph of that paper of yours, I am writing a paper with Joan on scientsts attitudes to scientific blogging (with UQ Guinea pigs if my ethics approval ever comes through). Yay more articles and a tonne of blogroll links… On outreach? I know why they do use it, Sandra, but seriously, what it evokes is something else. It reinforces Snow’s two worlds thingy.
Pubcat: I know several people who work in science outreach programs. Seriously, the word “outreach” evokes the proper picture. Almost all of the educators I know were probably camp counselors in a former life.
Pubcat: I know several people who work in science outreach programs. Seriously, the word “outreach” evokes the proper picture. Almost all of the educators I know were probably camp counselors in a former life.
the term “outreach” always triggers up images of earnest young folk playing guitars and singing “Kumbaya” Really? Must be an Australianianism. In the USA, we call that “fellowship.” “Outreach” is when a major corporation donates $50K worth of lab equipment to public schools, and then spends $3M publicizing the fact.
the term “outreach” always triggers up images of earnest young folk playing guitars and singing “Kumbaya” Really? Must be an Australianianism. In the USA, we call that “fellowship.” “Outreach” is when a major corporation donates $50K worth of lab equipment to public schools, and then spends $3M publicizing the fact.
Unlike some of you [holds fingers up in annoying quotes gesture] I am not a Registered Scientitian or a college student and get my education fix wherever I can. I love science blogs. On occasion, reading them even leads to reading actual books. Certainly, reading Talk.origins leads to reading books (yes, I know, not a blog). Eventually, I may learn something.
Unlike some of you [holds fingers up in annoying quotes gesture] I am not a Registered Scientitian or a college student and get my education fix wherever I can. I love science blogs. On occasion, reading them even leads to reading actual books. Certainly, reading Talk.origins leads to reading books (yes, I know, not a blog). Eventually, I may learn something.