tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post507840942259526567..comments2024-03-22T01:00:38.320-04:00Comments on I.N.K.: Science, Censorship, and GibberishLinda Salzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-38732280933148011802010-12-03T13:00:14.528-05:002010-12-03T13:00:14.528-05:00Great post.
As an entry level editor on a teacher ...Great post.<br />As an entry level editor on a teacher magazine, I was told, point blank, not to use the "e" word. Our code for it was: "Animal and plant adaptation over a long period of time." But mostly, we avoided it altogether and focused on other subject areas.<br />The editor of this magazine also nixed any discussion of creation myths (as related to the stars, the moon, and the sun, for example) that didn't involve monotheism, even in a historical or cultural context.<br />Every year, I donate to the National Center for Science Education, which is on the frontlines of this battle. I usually opt for a t-shirt premium ("Scientists named Steve who believe in evolution") to help spread the word.Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00628245783254287432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-84430218261152944542010-12-02T20:35:11.836-05:002010-12-02T20:35:11.836-05:00In this age of self-publishing, it is way too easy...In this age of self-publishing, it is way too easy to produce an entire nonfiction book that is really fiction. There are simply no controls on self-published material. I continue to be amazed at the amount of websites, books and articles I find that are not based on facts.<br /><br />Recently, a well-respected scientist told me to stick to the facts and not to become an advocate. I wish I'd asked him to further explain what exactly he meant by "advocate." <br /><br />Last month, at a science conference, I went to a session on science literacy. At the end of the session they asked each panelist how they would spend $1 to improve the public's understanding of science. The first speaker who was very knowledgeable about research in this area (of course I don't remember his name!) broke his dollar up this way:<br />$.50 - educating K-12<br />$.25 - educating college students<br />$.25 - educating adultsLinda Zajachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11930130216892471502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-75561672514422459842010-12-02T17:31:46.730-05:002010-12-02T17:31:46.730-05:00Vicki, I like your piece on Education Update Onlin...Vicki, I like your piece on Education Update Online. I had not seen that blog... I'll watch The Link. Sounds interesting. Human evolution is one of those potential book subjects that beckons, but it presents enough writing and illustrative challenges that the right approach always seems to hover just out of my grasp.<br /><br />What we are all getting at, I think, is that a lack of understanding (or concern) about how science works is at the root of many of our educational and cultural ills. We just have to keep doing what we're doing, and hope it makes a difference.steve jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16730878564197088655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-81301554470596333912010-12-02T13:14:18.720-05:002010-12-02T13:14:18.720-05:00It is ironic that pseudoscientists are forced to u...It is ironic that pseudoscientists are forced to use the terminology and concepts (however distorted) of real scientists in a parasitic way... they can't create an intellectual edifice on their own, they have to steal bits of what others have made to build their little straw huts. (Where's the Big Bad Wolf when we need him?)<br /><br />They <i>should</i> have to produce real predictions and real results before anyone pays attention to them... but that's not the point, is it? What they are paid to produce is propaganda.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783236322334230920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-39862530439522314382010-12-02T11:09:31.996-05:002010-12-02T11:09:31.996-05:00I'm with you on this, Steve. When I discuss t...I'm with you on this, Steve. When I discuss the lightening of skin shades from equatorial Africa to Ireland, evolution is implied. I've read many scientific papers and I screwed up my brain as I read your excerpt because it makes no sense. The biggest problem is that most people don't understand that HOW we know in science determines WHAT we know and that you can't cherry pick the fruits of science and make a rational philosophy of it. I updated a blog on this subject, originally written for INK and now published for Education Update: http://educationupdate.com/vickicobb/2010/10/why-hands-on-science-anyhow.html In the video "The Link" Leakey says that evolution is not a theory, it is a fact--just like gravity.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07214356318088069618noreply@blogger.com