Comments for Science and Society strategy for the UK

Comment on Science and Society up to now by Catherine Reynolds

Catherine Reynolds — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:56:14 +0000

Quote “This site will be regularly updated with news on the groups’ activities and how others can get involved.”

requires those of us not involved with any of these groups to actively keep visiting. There’s no RSS feed that I could find so I can be alerted when anything happens.

Comment on Science for All Expert Group by Simon

Simon — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:42:19 +0000

In the Public Attitudes to Science 2008 survey, 79% of respondents agreed that ’science is such a big part of our lives that we should take an interest’; how then are you able to make the assertion above “Research (see Public Attitudes to Science 2008) suggests that society does not see scientific research as relevant to everyday life”?

Comment on Science for All Expert Group by Dr. A. Van der Auweraert

Dr. A. Van der Auweraert — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:07:11 +0000

I wish to focus on the following in your text: `communicating to society `. I believe this is to narrow, better is to talk about `communicating with society`. This way of thinking match better with the idea of engagement…

Ann Van der Auweraert, PhD
Assistant Professor
Science Education & Communication
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.sec.msc.tudelft.nl

Comment on Documents and links by Science: shining beacon or siren on the rocks? « VIVID

Science: shining beacon or siren on the rocks? « VIVID — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:16:31 +0000

[...] Britain the government has just finished a consultation on its new Vision for Science and Society. To remedy the lack of enthusiasm the process uncovered it has started yet another public education [...]

Comment on Consultation Summary Report by E-Demokratie.org » In eigener Sache » Rückblick 2008 - Teil 3

E-Demokratie.org » In eigener Sache » Rückblick 2008 - Teil 3 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:38:47 +0000

[...] um die geplannte Strategie des Ministeriums. Am 28. Januar 2009 veröffentlichte die Behörde einen Report, der die Ergebnisse der Konsultation [...]

Comment on Consultation Summary Report by Geoffrey Haselhurst

Geoffrey Haselhurst — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:41:20 +0000

Well it would be useful to fix the problems in science.
To do this is simple - just deduce the most simple science theory of reality - then you find science works without all the confusion and paradox that comes from the incorrect ‘particle’ foundations of reality.

Sincerely,
Geoff Haselhurst
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Most-Simple-Scientific-Theory-Reality.htm

When forced to summarize the general theory of relativity in one sentence:
Time and space and gravitation have no separate existence from matter. …
Physical objects are not in space, but these objects are spatially extended. In this way the concept ‘empty space’ loses its meaning. … Since the theory of general relativity implies the representation of physical reality by a continuous field, the concept of particles or material points cannot play a fundamental part, … and can only appear as a limited region in space where the field strength / energy density are particularly high. (Albert Einstein, 1950)

The notion that all these fragments is separately existent is evidently an illusion, and this illusion cannot do other than lead to endless conflict and confusion. Indeed, the attempt to live according to the notion that the fragments are really separate is, in essence, what has led to the growing series of extremely urgent crises that is confronting us today. Thus, as is now well known, this way of life has brought about pollution, destruction of the balance of nature, over-population, world-wide economic and political disorder and the creation of an overall environment that is neither physically nor mentally healthy for most of the people who live in it. Individually there has developed a widespread feeling of helplessness and despair, in the face of what seems to be an overwhelming mass of disparate social forces, going beyond the control and even the comprehension of the human beings who are caught up in it. (David Bohm, Wholeness and the Implicate Order, 1980)

Comment on Consultation Summary Report by Mark Steele

Mark Steele — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:46:53 +0000

The relationship with the Media and simplistic entertainment has in part being responsible for un educating the masses. It could be said that this hand in glove relationship with dancing singing and everything not scientific is sypmtomatic of the Researchers and Media sector of having a closer and better understood view of light entertainment it would seem easy. Life sciences and Biology programme’s used to fill the Saturday night spot with Attenborough et al having the nation glued to their seats. The Sky at Night Tommorows world all have fell by the way side and replaced with the Glitzy raz ama taz that we see today.
While this is entertainig the masses it is not informing them of anything in particular and this I see as a problem. How difficult can it be for the BBC to host a show of inventions that can be assessed by a panel of commercial able individuals similiar to Dragons Den. Who would write the business plan. The next stage could be to secure funding and show how this can be achieved or have a prize to develop the product to a prototype using either scientists and technologists Take the Public into the Labs and workshops to show how products are designed made and refined. Then sell them. Like the X factor show sells records. If the masses can be shown how and what can be achieved with an idea and how the different aspects of science and commercial interests marry to make and develop new products and concepts then they may be more interested in the subject of science. The BBC have duty to inform the public. The spin off from such programmes could create the next generation of scientist.

Mark Steele

Comment on Consultation Summary Report by Peter Green

Peter Green — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:26:00 +0000

AlphaGalileo is Europe’s research news service, supported by DIUS as well as 9 other countries. We are pleased to see the significance of the media recognised and will be pleased to offer our expertise which is based on experience and a wide consultation exercise with the European media, research public relations staff and administrators. This demonstrated the need for action to support the key facilitators in this area: research bodies’ press and media officers. This group are too often forgotten and initiatives aimed only at researchers and the media.

Research public relations must be capable of taking its place alongside political, financial and cultural PR as a challenging and stimulating career for the best recruits to the PR industry.

More and better media coverage of European research is crucial if we are to empower citizens to take part in dialogue, encourage more young people to value research and to secure the benefits in wealth creation from the technologies being developed. Public relations that is valued and well supported is a first step to enhanced media coverage.

Comment on Media by Science and Society » Blog Archive » Consultation Summary Report

Science and Society » Blog Archive » Consultation Summary Report — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:18:24 +0000

[...] the media and scientists to work closely together on new science [...]

Comment on Public awareness and engagement with science by Science and Society » Blog Archive » Consultation Summary Report

Science and Society » Blog Archive » Consultation Summary Report — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:59:39 +0000

[...] science more relevant by making more people excited by and engaged in [...]

Comment on Developing scientific literacy by Dick Tindall

Dick Tindall — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:11:31 +0000

The problem goes deeper than the education system - which, of course, is not perfect.
The general public are more educated in many quite complex non-scientific areas such as fashion, sport, music and many other subjects.
These are the topics for everyday conversation and most people would be embarrassed to admit total ignorance.
In contrast, I have heard Radio 4 presenters sounding proud when they say they have no grasp of a scientific topic.
This is a cultural predjudice similar to (the now old-fashioned) racial predjudice, in that it makes blanket assumptions about all science and scientists, (difficult-dull-dangerous).
As a start, some opinion leaders such as media presenters, perhaps even on Radio 1, should be made aware of the problem they are causing and asked to help by watching the way they talk.

Comment on Science Blogging by Famous for fifteen people « O’Really? at Duncan.Hull.name

Famous for fifteen people « O’Really? at Duncan.Hull.name — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:48:27 +0000

[...] bods from DIUS, must have been Mike Rose? probably and Steph Gray, see DIUS sciblog report. I liked the demo of how to embed funky DIUS widgets in your website (techie note to self: [...]

Comment on Documents and links by UK government consults with public on science policy « The Plummet Onions

UK government consults with public on science policy « The Plummet Onions — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:33:16 +0000

[...] on, Brits. This is our society, our government, and therefore our policies. Understanding them is a good thing. Submitting opinions is an even better [...]