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
Evolution Liveblogging the conference: Bill Wimsatt 14 Mar 2008 Bill Wimsatt is somewhat of a hero around here and for good reason. He is perhaps one of the most influential under-published philosophers of biology. Today he’s talking about modularity in biological and cultural evolution. Read More
General Science [Philosophy of] science blogging 7 Aug 200718 Sep 2017 I’ve been pretty quiet of late. In part this is because I’ve been travelling with little internet access, but also it’s because I’m teaching a subject I haven’t studied in years, and because I was asked to write a popular essay for a magazine. It’s COSMOS Magazine, an Australian popular… Read More
General Science Vitalism 17 Oct 2008 Melvyn Bragg, always an informed and interesting interviewer, has a podcast up from BBC Radio of an interview on the topic of vitalism in biology. Here the experts chosen are Patricia Fara, Fellow of Clare College and Affiliated Lecturer in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge… 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.