A problem with communicating human genetic history
Vincent Plagnol in Genomes Unzipped last month wrote about a bad example of public communication of population genetics and DNA ancestry testing: "Exaggerations and errors in the promotion of genetic...
View ArticleRecantation of a former genetic know-nothing
The text of this lecture by Mark Lynas is remarkable ("Lecture to Oxford Farming Conference, 3 January 2013"). Lynas gained prominence as a critic of genetically modified crops, and describes in the...
View ArticleMailbag: What science writing can we trust?
Re: "Confessions of a former genetic know-nothing":Dear Prof. HawksI have just read this article and it literally woke me up. A great deal is published concerning topical issues, but how is the public...
View ArticleMailbag: Lynas flap, is he laudable?
Re: "Recantation of a former genetic know-nothing":I'm an admirer of your blog. I work in academia, but I've also had some experience writing for print media (though nothing so influential as The...
View ArticleGetting students into communicating anthropology
From Kristina Killgrove, a syllabus for a graduate course in Presenting Anthropology: A lot of the "reading" for the course, though, is going to be mandatory web-surfing, listening to podcasts,...
View ArticleBlog of the seven veils
Why should academics consider blogging, and when should they band together to work on a group blog? An interview from early 2012 helps to answer those questions: "Five minutes with Patrick Dunleavy and...
View ArticleOnline communication biases upon the public perception of science
Last week's issue of Science included a perspective piece by my UW colleagues Dominique Brossard and Dietram A. Scheufele, from Life Science Communication [1]. They focus on the impact of technology...
View ArticleProfile of Deborah Blum
The Guardian interviews my University of Wisconsin-Madison colleague and friend, Deborah Blum, on what inspires her to write about science: "Deborah Blum on science writing: I'm a neurotic...
View ArticleMoving beyond science communication toward engagement
PLoS Biology recently published an essay by Brooke Smith and colleagues, focused on "Navigating the rules of scientific engagement"[1]. The authors represent COMPASS, a nonprofit organization dedicated...
View ArticleSpeak up and matter
Current Biology is running a short editorial by Geoffrey North, wishy-washing its way through a non-opinion about the value of blogging in science ("Social Media Likes and Dislikes") [1]. North gives a...
View ArticleScientists' reasons for engagement with the media
Matt Shipman comments on why scientists choose to talk to journalists: "Seniority, Self-Confidence Predict Whether Scientists Will Work With Media". He refers extensively to the findings of a 2009...
View ArticleBackreaction on science blogging advice
Sabine Hossenfelder gives some useful advice about "Should you write a science blog?". Advice #8: Don’t be afraid of your readers.If everybody would like what you write, somebody would hate it just...
View ArticleChanging science education
As the new semester is getting underway, the New York Timesasked a bunch of scientists and students what they would advocate to improve science education. There are many interesting perspectives, but I...
View ArticleWellcome Trust funds public engagement
The Wellcome Trust, a major funder of biomedical research in the UK, has made a new 4.5 million pound investment in public engagement, as explained by Clare Matterson: "Scientists' public engagement...
View ArticleRising Star: The view from a caver/scientist
Today's post on the Rising Star Expedition blog is by one of our six advance scientists, Elen Feuerriegel: "The View From a Caver/Scientist". In the process of clearing the Puzzle Box, Alia and I...
View Article
