"The bottom line is that the world is round, humans evolved from an extinct species, and Elvis is dead" - Gerald Weissmann MD, Editor-in-Chief, FASEB Journal
According to an article appearing in the January 2008 issue of The FASEB [Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology] Journal, a survey of 1000 likely voters reveals that the respondents would prefer to hear about evolution-related issues from scientists, science teachers and clergy than from Supreme Court justices, celebrities, or school board members.
In academia, though, a scientist's public outreach activities are considered to be much less important than the number & quality of published articles, the amount of grant monies awarded, and the number of graduate students who succeed in their program. Even in small state universities, public outreach is vaguely lumped under the heading of "service to the profession" or "service to the community."
As science faculty endure the grueling track to tenure, adding one more component to their "must do" list doesn't seem like a reasonable solution. But as these aspiring professors write articles for peer-review, they might consider including an interpretation of their work that the general public could understand, and having this interpretation released by the public relations department of their institution.
Keep in mind I'm not employed by a college or a university; I freely recognize that this idea might not be workable in the real world. What are some obstacles? How else could we foster better communication between scientists and the general public?
"This survey is a wake-up call for anyone who supports teaching information based on evidence rather than speculation or hope; people want to hear the truth, and they want to hear it from scientists." - Weissmann
There's a potent message for science teachers embedded in this article as well:
"The survey also found that there is a relationship between people's understanding of science and their support for teaching evolution. Respondents were asked three questions: one related to plate tectonics, one related to the proper use of antibiotics, and one related to prehistory. Those who accurately answered questions on these subjects were far more likely to support the teaching of evolution in schools."
Perhaps this quote reeks of "man bites dog," but it underscores the need for science competency in the general public, not just science literacy. More on that difference later.
posted by Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
