tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19216099.post8194666098653356828..comments2024-02-16T06:03:12.489-06:00Comments on BrummellBlog: Popularizing ScienceTheBrummellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08973380652057861796noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19216099.post-78050229308212492402007-02-19T09:07:00.000-06:002007-02-19T09:07:00.000-06:00Thanks, Zaxy, but I think you may have me (and pot...Thanks, Zaxy, but I think you may have me (and potentially any residual brilliance I may possess) confused with another: it was not I who posted the excellent point about 42 over on the World's Fair.<BR/><BR/>In any case, thanks for stopping by.TheBrummellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08973380652057861796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19216099.post-25220375297522931192007-02-18T15:44:00.000-06:002007-02-18T15:44:00.000-06:00Brummell,You are BRILLIANT, and wonderful to read!...Brummell,<BR/><BR/>You are BRILLIANT, and wonderful to read! but then.. you had me at "<A HREF="http://scienceblogs.com/worldsfair/2007/01/this_is_all_about_the_truth_a.php" REL="nofollow">The answer is 42</A>."<BR/><BR/>:D<BR/>~ZAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19216099.post-79675655186896994622007-02-17T23:04:00.000-06:002007-02-17T23:04:00.000-06:00My Ph.D. work has turned me into a hyper-purist. T...My Ph.D. work has turned me into a hyper-purist. Throwing drafts of manuscripts around the lab(s) has made me realize how easily people get misled as to your meaning when you are not dry and somewhat redundant. <BR/><BR/>It's very difficult to decide how far one can go in terms of 'layperson speak' before the original meaning of a result becomes misconstrued.<BR/><BR/>Case in point, there was a recent CNN article with a title like "Scientists Uncover Alzheimer's Gene'. The paper showed that 22% of victims of Alzheimer's had a particular mutation in this gene... I wouldn't call that 'the' Alzheimer's gene. <BR/><BR/>It's a toss-up between public interest and public understanding. You should read SJ Gould's '<I>The Mismeasure of Man</I>'. In it, he argues that science can be presented in toto with proper explanation and still remain interesting to any reader. Based on all of Gould's books that I've read, I'm quite convinced that he was right.<BR/><BR/>I don't think we should be playing to the lowest common denominator of societal desire to understand. If it's gotta be a little detailed, that's the way its gotta be.Carlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00153076425887492166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19216099.post-25817382877410529762007-02-17T17:06:00.000-06:002007-02-17T17:06:00.000-06:00As the author of comment #23...Of course, the one ...<I>As the author of comment #23...</I><BR/><BR/>Of course, the one commenter I forget to credit by name shows up first. Sorry about that.<BR/><BR/><I>So I guess you've got me hooked into keeping an eye on your blog now...</I><BR/><BR/>MWA-HA-HAHAHAHAHA-HA! All part of my nefarious plans!<BR/><BR/>Seriously, thanks for commenting.<BR/><BR/>I need to sort out my thoughts on science communcation before I tackle science and policy. Most of my interest and (weak) knowledge of science and policy stems from conversations I've had with a professor of Geography here at the university of Guelph (who also happens to be a long-time family friend). I should contact him and get permission before I post my garbled re-interpretations of his thoughts here.<BR/><BR/>Once I get a few more of these essays marked and behind me, I'll try to pull something together here.TheBrummellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08973380652057861796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19216099.post-36473244536353941692007-02-17T16:40:00.000-06:002007-02-17T16:40:00.000-06:00Interesting thoughts, most of which i agree with. ...Interesting thoughts, most of which i agree with. As the author of comment #23, and someone really interested in the translation of science into policy and the public arena, I would, of course, love to see your post-it note expanded! So I guess you've got me hooked into keeping an eye on your blog now... :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16397352235608677895noreply@blogger.com